[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 26, Volume 9]
[Revised as of April 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 26CFR1.856-6]

[Page 63-72]
 
                       TITLE 26--INTERNAL REVENUE
 
    CHAPTER I--INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY 
                               (CONTINUED)
 
PART 1_INCOME TAXES--Table of Contents
 
Sec.  1.856-6  Foreclosure property.

    (a) In general. Under section 856(e) a real estate investment trust 
may make an irrevocable election to treat as ``foreclosure property'' 
certain real property (including interests in real property), and any 
personal property incident to the real property, acquired by the trust 
after December 31, 1973. This section prescribes rules relating to the 
election, including rules relating

[[Page 64]]

to property eligible for the election. This section also prescribes 
rules relating to extensions of the general two-year period (hereinafter 
the ``grace period'') during which property retains its status as 
foreclosure property, as well as rules relating to early termination of 
the grace period under section 856(e)(4). The election to treat property 
as foreclosure property does not alter the character of the income 
derived therefrom (other than for purposes of section 856(c)(2)(F) and 
(3)(F)). For example, if foreclosure property is sold, the determination 
of whether it is property described in section 1221(1) will not be 
affected by the fact that it is foreclosure property.
    (b) Property eligible for the election--(1) Rules relating to 
acquisitions. In general, the trust must acquire the property after 
December 31, 1973, as the result of having bid in the property at 
foreclosure, or having otherwise reduced the property to ownership or 
possession by agreement or process of law, after there was default (or 
default was imminent) on a lease of the property (where the trust was 
the lessor) or on an indebtedness owed to the trust which the property 
secured. Foreclosure property which secured an indebtedness owed to the 
trust is acquired for purposes of section 856(e) on the date on which 
the trust acquires ownership of the property for Federal income tax 
purposes. Foreclosure property which a trust owned and leased to another 
is acquired for purposes of section 856(e) on the date on which the 
trust acquires possession of the property from its lessee. A trust will 
not be considered to have acquired ownership of property for purposes of 
section 856(e) where it takes control of the property as a mortgagee-in-
possession and cannot receive any profit or sustain any loss with 
respect to the property except as a creditor of the mortgagor. A trust 
may be considered to have acquired ownership of property for purposes of 
section 856(e) even through legal title to the property is held by 
another person. For example, where, upon foreclosure of a mortgage held 
by the trust, legal title to the property is acquired in the name of a 
nominee for the exclusive benefit of the trust and the trust is the 
equitable owner of the property, the trust will be considered to have 
acquired ownership of the property for purposes of section 856(e). 
Generally, the fact that under local law the mortgagor has a right of 
redemption after foreclosure is not relevant in determining whether the 
trust has acquired ownership of the property for purposes of section 
856(e). Property is not ineligible for the election solely because the 
property, in addition to securing an indebtedness owed to the trust, 
also secures debts owed to other creditors. Property eligible for the 
election includes a building or other improvement which has been 
constructed on land owned by the trust and which is acquired by the 
trust upon default of a lease of the land.
    (2) Personal property. Personal property (including personal 
property not subject to a mortgage or lease of the real property) will 
be considered incident to a particular item of real property if the 
personal property is used in a trade or business conducted on the 
property or the use of the personal property is otherwise an ordinary 
and necessary corollary of the use to which the real property is put. In 
the case of a hotel, such items as furniture, appliances, linens, china, 
food, etc. would be examples of incidental personal property. Personal 
property incident to the real property is eligible for the election even 
though it is acquired after the real property is acquired or is placed 
in the building or other improvement in the course of the completion of 
construction.
    (3) Property with respect to which default is anticipated. Property 
is not eligible for the election to be treated as foreclosure property 
if the loan or lease with respect to which the default occurs (or is 
imminent) was made or entered into (or the lease or indebtedness was 
acquired) by the trust with an intent to evict or foreclose, or when the 
trust knew or had reason to know that default would occur (``improper 
knowledge''). For purposes of the preceding sentence, a trust will not 
be considered to have improper knowledge with respect to a particular 
lease or loan, if the lease or loan was made pursuant to a binding 
commitment entered into by the trust at a time when it did not have 
improper knowledge. Moreover, if

[[Page 65]]

the trust, in an attempt to avoid default or foreclosure, advances 
additional amounts to the borrower in excess of amounts contemplated in 
the original loan commitment or modifies the lease or loan, such advance 
or modification will be considered not to have been made with an intent 
to evict or foreclose, or with improper knowledge, unless the original 
loan or lease was entered into with that intent or knowledge.
    (c) Election--(1) In general. (i) An election to treat property as 
foreclosure property applies to all of the eligible real property 
acquired in the same taxable year by the trust upon the default (or as a 
result of the imminence of default) on a particular lease (where the 
trust is the lessor) or on a particular indebtedness owed to the trust. 
For example, if a loan made by a trust is secured by two separate tracts 
of land located in different cities, and in the same taxable year the 
trust acquires both tracts on foreclosure upon the default (or imminence 
of default) of the loan, the trust must include both tracts in the 
election. For a further example, the trust may choose to make a separate 
election for only one of the tracts if they are acquired in different 
taxable years or were not security for the same loan. If real property 
subject to the same election is acquired at different times in the same 
taxable year, the grace period for a particular property begins when 
that property is acquired.
    (ii) If the trust acquires separate pieces of real property that 
secure the same indebtedness (or are under the same lease) in different 
taxable years because the trust delays acquiring one of them until a 
later taxable year, and the primary purpose for the delay is to include 
only one of them in an election, then if the trust makes an election for 
one piece it must also make an election for the other piece. A trust 
will not be considered to have delayed the acquisition of property for 
this purpose if there is a legitimate business reason for the delay 
(such as an attempt to avoid foreclosure by further negotiations with 
the debtor or lessee).
    (iii) All of the eligible personal property incident to the real 
property must also be included in the election.
    (2) Time for making election. The election to treat property as 
foreclosure property must be made on or before the due date (including 
extensions of time) for filing the trust's income tax return for the 
taxable year in which the trust acquires the property with respect to 
which the election is being made, or April 3, 1975, whichever is later.
    (3) Manner of making the election. An election made after February 
6, 1981, shall be made by a statement attached to the income tax return 
for the taxable year in which the trust acquired the property with 
respect to which the election is being made. The statement shall 
indicate that the election is made under section 856(e) and shall 
identify the property to which the election applies. The statement shall 
also set forth--
    (i) The name, address, and taxpayer identification number of the 
trust,
    (ii) The date the property was acquired by the trust, and
    (iii) A brief description of how the real property was acquired, 
including the name of the person or persons from whom the real property 
was acquired and a description of the lease or indebtedness with respect 
to which default occurred or was imminent.


An election made on or before February 6, 1981 shall be filed in the 
manner prescribed in 26 CFR 10.1(f) (revised as of April 1, 1977) 
(temporary regulations relating to the election to treat property as 
foreclosure property) as in effect when the election is made.
    (4) Status of taxpayer. In general, a taxpayer may make an election 
with respect to an acquisition of property only if the taxpayer is a 
qualified real estate investment trust for the taxable year in which the 
acquisition occurs. If, however, the taxpayer establishes, to the 
satisfaction of the district director for the internal revenue district 
in which the taxpayer maintains its principal place of business or 
principal office or agency, that its failure to be a qualified real 
estate investment trust for a taxable year was to due to reasonable 
cause and not due to willful neglect, the taxpayer may make the election 
with respect to property acquired in such taxable year. The principles 
of Sec. Sec.  1.856.7(c) and 1.856.8(d) (including the principles 
relating to expert advice)

[[Page 66]]

will apply in determining whether, for purposes of this subparagraph, 
the failure of the taxpayer to be a qualified real estate investment 
trust for the taxable year in which the property is acquired was due to 
reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect. If a taxpayer makes a 
valid election to treat property as foreclosure property, the property 
will not lose its status as foreclosure property solely because the 
taxpayer is not a qualified real estate investment trust for a 
subsequent taxable year (including a taxable year which encompasses an 
extension of the grace period). However, the rules relating to the 
termination of foreclosure property status in section 856(e)(4) (but not 
the tax on income from foreclosure property imposed by section 
857(b)(4)) apply to the year in which the property is acquired and all 
subsequent years, even though the taxpayer is not a qualified real 
estate investment trust for such year.
    (d) Termination of 2-year grace period; subsequent leases--(1) In 
general. Under section 856(e)(4)(A), all real property (and any 
incidental personal property) for which a particular election has been 
made (see paragraph (c)(1) of this section) shall cease to be 
foreclosure property on the first day (occurring on or after the day on 
which the trust acquired the property) on which the trust either--
    (i) Enters into a lease with respect to any of the property which, 
by its terms, will give rise to income of the trust which is not 
described in section 856(c)(3) (other than section 856(c)(3)(F)), or
    (ii) Receives or accrues, directly or indirectly, any amount which 
is not described in section 856(c)(3) (other than section 856(c)(3)(F)) 
pursuant to a lease with respect to any of the real property entered 
into by the trust on or after the day the trust acquired the property.

For example, assume the trust acquires, in a particular taxable year, a 
shopping center upon the default of an indebtedness owed to the trust. 
Also assume that the trust subsequently enters into a lease with respect 
to one of several stores in the shopping center that requires the lessee 
to pay rent to the trust which is not income described in section 
856(c)(3) (other than section 856(c)(3)(F)). In such case, the entire 
shopping center will cease to be foreclosure property on the day the 
trust enters into the lease.
    (2) Extensions or renewals of leases. Generally, the extension or 
renewal of a lease of foreclosure property will be treated as the 
entering into of a new lease only if the trust has a right to 
renegotiate the terms of the lease. If, however, by operation of law or 
by contract, the acquisition of the foreclosure property by the trust 
terminates a preexisting lease of the property, or gives the trust a 
right to terminate the lease, then for purposes of section 856(e)(4)(A), 
a trust, in such circumstances, will not be considered to have entered 
into a lease with respect to the property solely because the terms of 
the preexisting lease are continued in effect after foreclosure without 
substantial modification. The letting of rooms in a hotel or motel does 
not constitute the entering into a lease for purposes of section 
856(e)(4)(A).
    (3) Rent attributable to personal property. Solely for the purposes 
of section 856(e)(4)(A), if a trust enters into a lease with respect to 
real property on or after the day upon which the trust acquires such 
real property by foreclosure, and a portion of the rent from such lease 
is attributable to personal property which is foreclosure property 
incident to such real property, such rent attributable to the incidental 
personal property will not be considered to terminate the status of such 
real property (or such incidental personal property) as foreclosure 
property.
    (e) Termination of 2-year grace period; completion of construction--
(1) In general. Under section 856(e)(4)(B), all real property (and any 
incidental personal property) for which a particular election has been 
made (see paragraph (c)(1) of this section) shall cease to be 
foreclosure property on the first day (occurring on or after the day on 
which the trust acquired the property) on which any construction takes 
place on the property, other than completion of a building (or 
completion of any other improvement) where more than 10 percent of the 
construction of the building (or other improvement) was completed before 
default became imminent. If

[[Page 67]]

more than one default occurred with respect to an indebtedness or lease 
in respect of which there is an acquisition, the more-than-10-percent 
test (including the rule prescribed in this paragraph relating to the 
test) will not be applied at the time a particular default became 
imminent if it is clear that the acquisition did not occur as the result 
of such default. For example, if the debtor fails to make four 
consecutive payments of principal and interest on the due dates, and the 
trust takes action to acquire the property securing the debt only after 
the fourth default becomes imminent, the 10-percent test is applied at 
the time the fourth default became imminent (even though the trust would 
not have foreclosed on the property had not all four defaults occurred).
    (2) Determination of percentage of completion. The determination of 
whether the construction of a building or other improvement was more 
than 10 percent complete when default became imminent shall be made by 
comparing the total direct costs of construction incurred with respect 
to the building or other improvement as of the date default became 
imminent with the estimated total direct costs of construction as of 
such date. If the building or other improvement qualifies as more than 
10 percent complete under this method, the building or other improvement 
shall be considered to be more than 10 percent complete. For purposes of 
this subparagraph, direct costs of construction include the cost of 
labor and materials which are directly connected with the construction 
of the building or improvement.

Thus, for example, direct costs of construction incurred as of the date 
default became imminent would include amounts paid, or for which 
liability has been incurred, for labor which has been performed as of 
such date that is directly connected with the construction of the 
building or other improvement and for building materials and supplies 
used or consumed in connection with the construction as of such date. 
For purposes of applying the 10-percent test the trust may also take 
into account the cost of building materials and supplies which have been 
delivered to the construction site as of the date default became 
imminent and which are to be used or consumed in connection with the 
construction. On the other hand, architect's fees, administrative costs 
of the developer or builder, lawyers' fees, and expenses incurred in 
connection with obtaining zoning approval or building permits are not 
considerd to be direct costs of construction. Any construction by the 
trust as mortgagee-in-possession is considered to have taken place after 
default resulting in acquisition of the property became imminent. 
Generally, the trust's estimate of the total direct costs of completing 
construction as of the date the default became imminent will be 
accepted, provided that the estimate is reasonable, in good faith, and 
is based on all of the data reasonably available to the trust when the 
trust undertakes completion of construction of the building or other 
improvement. Appropriate documentation which shows that construction was 
more than 10 percent complete when default became imminent must be 
available at the principal place of business of the trust for inspection 
in connection with an examination of the income tax return. Construction 
includes the renovation of a building, such as the remodeling of 
apartments, or the renovation of an apartment building to convert rental 
units to a condominium. The renovation must be more than 10 percent 
complete (determined by comparing the total direct cost of the physical 
renovation which has been incurred when default became imminent with the 
estimated total direct cost of renovation as of such date) when default 
became immiment in order for the property not to lose its status as 
foreclosure property if the trust undertakes the renovation.
    (3) Modification of a building or improvement. Generally, the terms 
``building'' and ``improvement'' in section 856(e)(4)(B) mean the 
building or improvement (including any intergral part thereof) as 
planned by the mortgagor or lessee (or other person in possession of the 
property, if appropriate) as of the date default became imminent. The 
trust, however, may estimate the total direct costs of construction and 
complete the construction of the building or other improvement by

[[Page 68]]

modifying the building or other improvement as planned as of the date 
default became imminent so as to reduce the estimated direct cost of 
construction of the building or improvement. If the trust does so modify 
the planned construction of the building or improvement, the 10-percent 
test is to be applied by comparing the direct costs of construction 
incurred as of the date default became imminent that are attributable to 
the building or improvement as modified, with the estimated total direct 
costs (as of such date) of construction of the building or other 
improvement as modified. The trust, in order to meet the 10-percent 
test, may not, however, modify the planned building or improvement by 
reducing the estimated direct cost of construction to such an extent 
that the building or improvement is not functional.

Also, the trust may make subsequent modifications which increase the 
direct cost of construction of the building or improvement if such 
modifications--
    (i) Are required by a Federal, State, or local agency, or
    (ii) Are alterations that are either required by a prospective 
lessee or purchaser as a condition of leasing or buying the property or 
are necessary for the property to be used for the purpose planned at the 
time default became imminent.

Subdivision (ii) of the preceding sentence applies, however, only if the 
building or improvement, as modified, was more than 10 percent complete 
when default became imminent. A building completed by the trust will not 
cease to be foreclosure property solely because the building is used in 
a manner other than that planed by the defaulting mortgagor or lessee. 
Thus, for example, assume a trust acquired on foreclosure a planned 
apartment building which was 20 percent complete when default became 
imminent and that the trust completes the building without modifications 
which increase the direct cost of construction. The property will not 
cease to be foreclosure property by reason of section 856(e)(4)(B) 
solely because the trust sells the dwelling units in the building as 
condominium units, rather than holding them for rent as planned by the 
defaulting mortgagor. (See, however, section 856(e)(4)(C) and paragraph 
(f)(2) of this section for rules relating to the requirement that where 
foreclosure property is used in a trade or business (including a trade 
or business of selling the foreclosure property), the trade or business 
must be conducted through an independent contractor after 90 days after 
the property is acquired.)
    (4) Application on building-by-building basis. Generally the more 
than 10 percent test is to be applied on a building-by-building basis. 
Thus, for example, if a trust has foreclosed on land held by a developer 
building a housing subdivision, the trust may complete construction of 
the houses which were more than 10 percent complete when default became 
imminent. The trust, however, may not complete construction of houses 
which were only 10 percent (or less) complete, nor may the trust begin 
construction of other houses planned for the subdivision on which 
construction has not begun. The trust, however, may construct an 
additional building or improvement (whether or not the construction 
thereof has begun) which is an integral part of another building or 
other improvement that was more than 10 percent complete when default 
became imminent if the additional building or improvement and the other 
building or improvement, taken together as a unit, meet the more than 10 
percent test. For purposes of this paragraph, an additional building or 
other improvement will be considered to be an integral part of another 
building or improvement if--
    (i) It is ancillary to the other building or improvement and its 
principal intended use is to furnish services or facilities which either 
supplement the use of such other building or improvement or are 
necessary for such other building or improvement to be utilized in the 
manner or for the purpose for which it is intended, or
    (ii) The buildings or improvements are intended to comprise 
constituent parts of an interdependent group of buildings or other 
improvements.

However, a building or other improvement will not be considered to be an 
integral part of another building or improvement unless the buildings or 
improvements were planned as part of the

[[Page 69]]

same overall construction plan or project before default became 
imminent. An additional building or other improvement (such as, for 
example, an outdoor swimming pool or a parking garage) may be considered 
to be an integral part of another building or improvement, even though 
the additional building or improvement was also intended to be used to 
provide facilities or services for use in connection with several other 
buildings or improvements which will not be completed. If the trust 
chooses not to undertake the construction of an additional building or 
other improvement which qualifies as an integral part of another 
building or improvement, so much of the costs of construction (including 
both the direct costs of construction incurred before the default became 
imminent and the estimated costs of completion) as are attributable to 
that ``integral part'' shall not be taken into account in determining 
whether any other building or improvement was more than 10 percent 
complete when default became imminent. For example, assume the trust 
acquires on foreclosure a property on which the defaulting mortgagor has 
begun construction of a motel. The motel, as planned by the mortgagor, 
was to consist of a two-story building containing 30 units, and two 
detached one-story wings, each of which was to contain 20 units. At the 
time default became imminent, the defaulting mortgagor had completed 
more than 10 percent of the construction of the two-story structure but 
the two wings, an access road, a parking lot, and an outdoor swimming 
pool planned for the motel were each less than 10 percent complete. The 
trust may construct the two wings of the motel, the access road, the 
parking lot, and the swimming pool: Provided, That the motel and the 
other improvements which the trust undertakes to construct, taken 
together as a unit, were more than 10 percent complete when default 
became imminent. If, however, the trust chooses not to undertake 
construction of the swimming pool, the cost of construction attributable 
to the swimming pool, whether incurred before default became imminent or 
estimated as the cost of completion, shall not be taken into account in 
determining whether the trust can complete construction of the other 
buildings and improvements. For another example, assume that the trust 
acquires a planned shopping center on foreclosure. At the time default 
became imminent several large buildings intended to house shops and 
stores in the shopping center were more than 10 percent complete. Less 
than 10 percent of the construction, however, had been completed on a 
separate structure intended to house a bank. The bank was planned as a 
component of the shopping center in order to provide, in conjunction 
with the other shops and stores, a specific range and variety of goods 
and services with which to attract customers to the shopping center. The 
trust may complete construction of the bank: Provided, That the bank and 
the other buildings and improvements which the trust undertakes to 
complete, taken together as a unit, were more than 10 percent complete 
when default became imminent. If the trust chooses not to construct the 
bank, no actual or estimated construction costs attributable to the bank 
are to be taken into account in applying the 10-percent test with 
respect to the other buildings and improvements in the shopping center. 
For a third example, assume that a defaulting mortgagor had planned to 
construct two identical apartment buildings, A and B, on the same tract 
of land, that neither building is to provide substantial facilities or 
services to be used in connection with the other, and that only building 
A was more than 10 percent complete when default became imminent. The 
trust, in this case, may not complete building B. On the other hand, if 
the facts are the same except that pursuant to the plans of the 
defaulting mortgagor, one of the buildings is to contain the furnace and 
central air conditioning machinery for both buildings A and B, the trust 
may complete both buildings A and B: Provided, That, taken together as a 
unit, the two buildings meet the more-than-10-percent test.
    (5) Repair and maintenance. Under this paragraph (e), 
``construction'' does not include--
    (i) The repair or maintenance of a building or other improvement 
(such as the replacement of worn or obsolete

[[Page 70]]

furniture and appliances) to offset normal wear and tear or 
obsolescence, and the restoration of property required because of damage 
from fire, storm, vandalism or other casualty,
    (ii) The preparation of leased space for a new tenant which does not 
substantially extend the useful life of the building or other 
improvement or significantly increase its value, even though, in the 
case of commercial space, this preparation includes adapting the 
property to the conduct of a different business, or
    (iii) The performing of repair or maintenance described in paragraph 
(e)(5)(i) of this section after property is acquired that was deferred 
by the defaulting party and that does not constitute renovation under 
paragraph (e)(2) of this section.
    (6) Independent contractor required. If any construction takes place 
on the foreclosure property more than 90 days after the day on which 
such property was acquired by the trust, such construction must be 
performed by an independent contractor (as defined in section 856(d)(3) 
and Sec.  1.856-4(b)(5)(iii)) from whom the trust does not derive or 
receive any income. Otherwise, the property will cease to be foreclosure 
property.
    (7) Failure to complete construction. Property will not cease to be 
foreclosure property solely because a trust which undertakes the 
completion of construction of a building or other improvement on the 
property that was more than 10 percent complete when default became 
imminent does not complete the construction. Thus, for example, if a 
trust continues construction of a building that was 20 percent complete 
when default became imminent, and the trust constructs an additional 40 
percent of the building and then sells the property, the property will 
not lose its status as foreclosure property solely because the trust 
fails to complete construction of the building.
    (f) Termination of 2-year grace period; use of foreclosure property 
in a trade or business--(1) In general. Under section 856(e)(4)(C), all 
real property (and any incidental personal property) for which a 
particular election has been made (see paragraph (c)(1) of this section) 
shall cease to be foreclosure property on the first day (occurring more 
than 90 days after the day on which the trust acquired the property) on 
which the property is used in a trade or business conducted by the 
trust, other than a trade or business conducted by the trust through an 
independent contractor from whom the trust itself does not derive or 
receive any income. (See section 856(d)(3) for the definition of 
independent contractor.)
    (2) Property held primarily for sale to customers. For the purposes 
of section 856(e)(4)(C), foreclosure property held by the trust 
primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or 
business is considered to be property used in a trade or business 
conducted by the trust. Thus, if a trust holds foreclosure property 
(whether real property or personal property incident to real property) 
for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business more 
than 90 days after the day on which the trust acquired the real 
property, the trade or business of selling the property must be 
conducted by the trust through an independent contractor from whom the 
trust does not derive or receive any income. Otherwise, after such 90th 
day the property will cease to be foreclosure property.
    (3) Change in use. Foreclosure property will not cease to be 
foreclosure property solely because the use of the property in a trade 
or business by the trust differs from the use to which the property was 
put by the person from whom it was acquired. Thus, for example, if a 
trust acquires a rental apartment building on foreclosure, the property 
will not cease to be foreclosure property solely because the trust 
converts the building to a condominium apartment building and, through 
an independent contractor from whom the trust derives no income, engages 
in the trade or business of selling the individual condominium units.
    (g) Extension of 2-year grace period--(1) In general. A real estate 
investment trust may apply to the district director of the internal 
revenue district in which is located the principal place of business (or 
principal office or agency) of the trust for an extension of the 2-

[[Page 71]]

year grace period. If the trust establishes to the satisfaction of the 
district director that an extension of the grace period is necessary for 
the orderly liquidation of the trust's interest in foreclosure property, 
or for an orderly renegotiation of a lease or leases of the property, 
the district director may extend the 2-year grace period. See section 
856(e)(3) (as in effect with respect to the particular extension) for 
rules relating to the maximum length of an extension, and the number of 
extensions which may be granted. An extension of the grace period may be 
granted by the district director either before or after the date on 
which the grace period, but for the extension, would expire. The 
extension shall be effective as of the date on which the grace period, 
but for the extension, would expire.
    (2) Showing required. Generally, in order to establish the necessity 
of an extension, the trust must demonstrate that it has made good faith 
efforts to renegotiate leases with respect to, or dispose of, the 
foreclosure property. In certain cases, however, the trust may establish 
the necessity of an extension even though it has not made such efforts. 
For example, if the trust demonstrates that, for valid business reasons, 
construction of the foreclosure property could not be completed before 
the expiration of the grace period, the necessity of the extension could 
be established even though the trust had made no effort to sell the 
property. For another example, if the trust demonstrates that due to a 
depressed real estate market, it could not sell the foreclosure property 
before the expiration of the grace period except at a distress price, 
the necessity of an extension could be established even though the trust 
had made no effort to sell the property. The fact that property was 
acquired as foreclosure property prior to January 3, 1975 (the date of 
enactment of section 856(e)), generally will be considered as a factor 
(but not a controlling factor) which tends to establish that an 
extension of the grace period is necessary.
    (3) Time for requesting an extension of the grace period. A request 
for an extension of the grace period must be filed with the appropriate 
district director more than 60 days before the day on which the grace 
period would otherwise expire. In the case of a grace period which would 
otherwise expire before August 6, 1976, a request for an extension will 
be considered to be timely filed if filed on or before June 7, 1976.
    (4) Information required. The request for an extension of the grace 
period shall identify the property with respect to which the request is 
being made and shall also include the following information:
    (i) The name, address, and taxpayer identification number of the 
trust,
    (ii) The date the property was acquired as foreclosure property by 
the trust,
    (iii) The taxable year of the trust in which the property was 
acquired,
    (iv) If the trust has been previously granted an extension of the 
grace period with respect to the property, a statement to that effect 
(which shall include the date on which the grace period, as extended, 
expires) and a copy of the information which accompanied the request for 
the previous extension,
    (v) A statement of the reasons why the grace period should be 
extended,
    (vi) A description of any efforts made by the trust after the 
acquisition of the property to dispose of the property or to renegotiate 
any lease with respect to the property, and
    (vii) A description of any other factors which tend to establish 
that an extension of the grace period is necessary for the orderly 
liquidation of the trust's interest in the property, or for an orderly 
renegotiation of a lease or leases of the property.

The trust shall also furnish any additional information requested by the 
district director after the request for extension is filed.
    (5) Automatic extension. If a real estate investment trust files a 
request for an extension with the district director more than 60 days 
before the expiration of the grace period, the grace period shall be 
considered to be extended until the end of the 30th day after the date 
on which the district director notifies the trust by certified mail sent 
to its last known address that the period of extension requested by the 
trust is not granted. For further guidance regarding the definition of 
last known address, see Sec.  301.6212-2 of this chapter.

[[Page 72]]

In no event, however, shall the rule in the preceding sentence extend 
the grace period beyond the expiration of (i) the period of extension 
requested by the trust, or (ii) the 1-year period following the date 
that the grace period (but for the automatic extension) would expire. 
The date of the postmark on the sender's receipt is considered to be the 
date of the certified mail for purposes of this subparagraph. This 
subparagraph does not apply, however, if the date of the notification by 
certified mail described in the first sentence is more than 30 days 
before the date that the grace period (determined without regard to this 
subparagraph) expires. Moreover, this subparagraph shall not operate to 
allow any period of extension that is prohibited by the last sentence of 
section 856(e)(3) (as in effect with respect to the particular 
extension).
    (6) Extension of time for filing. If a real estate investment trust 
fails to file the request for an extension of the grace period within 
the time provided in paragraph (g)(3) of this section, then the district 
director shall grant a reasonable extension of time for filing such 
request, provided (i) it is established to the satisfaction of the 
district director that there was reasonable cause for failure to file 
the request within the prescribed time and (ii) a request for such 
extension is filed within such time as the district director considers 
reasonable under the circumstances.
    (7) Status of taxpayer. The reference to ``real estate investment 
trust'' or ``trust'' in this paragraph (g) shall be considered to 
include a taxpayer that is not a qualified real estate investment trust, 
if the taxpayer establishes to the satisfaction of the district director 
that its failure to be a qualified real estate investment trust for the 
taxable year was due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect. 
The principles of Sec.  1.856-7(c) and Sec.  1.856-8(d) (including the 
principles relating to expert advice) shall apply for determining 
reasonable cause (and absence of willful neglect) for this purpose.

(Sec. 856(d)(4) (90 Stat. 1750; 26 U.S.C. 856(d)(4)); sec. 856(e)(5) (88 
Stat. 2113; 26 U.S.C. 856(e)(5)); sec. 856(f)(2) (90 Stat. 1751; 26 
U.S.C. (856(f)(2)); sec. 856(g)(2) (90 Stat. 1753; 26 U.S.C. 856(g)(2)); 
sec. 858(a) (74 Stat. 1008; 26 U.S.C. 858(a)); sec. 859(c) (90 Stat. 
1743; 26 U.S.C. 859(c)); sec. 859(e) (90 Stat. 1744; 26 U.S.C. 859(e)); 
sec. 6001 (68A Stat. 731; 26 U.S.C. 6001); sec. 6011 (68A Stat. 732; 26 
U.S.C. 6011); sec. 6071 (68A Stat. 749, 26 U.S.C. 6071); sec. 6091 (68A 
Stat. 752; 26 U.S.C. 6091); sec. 7805 (68A Stat. 917; 26 U.S.C. 7805), 
Internal Revenue Code of 1954))

[T.D. 7767, 46 FR 11269, Feb. 6, 1981; 46 FR 15263, Mar. 5, 1981, as 
amended by T.D. 8939, 66 FR 2819, Jan. 12, 2001]