Per the IRS Education Provider Standards this course must be COMPLETED by 12/31/2026 to receive credits. NOTE: Go to My Professional Profile in your CCH CPELink account settings to ensure your name, and PTIN number; matches your PTIN card
This course will cover the primary rules and guidance associated with passive foreign investment companies (PFICs). Included within the course will be guidance on determining whether a foreign interest qualifies as a PFIC, explicitly focusing on foreign entities classification and determinations regarding passive income levels (even where books and records are unavailable). The course will also review the specific default tax rules applicable to PFICs and where/how they apply. Additionally, the course will also outline alternative elections available for taxing PFIC interests and eligibility requirements, as well as purging options for existing PFIC interests.
Publication Date: May 2023
Topics Covered
- What qualifies as a PFIC
- Default tax rules applicable to PFICs
- Alternative elections available for taxing PFIC interests and eligibility requirements
Learning Objectives
- Identify when a foreign interest triggers the passive foreign investment company rules, with a specific focus on qualifying income/assets and foreign corporate status
- Recognize the default rules regarding PFIC taxation, including applicable interest charges and gain reclassification
- Identify elective alternatives to the default rules for PFIC treatment and requirements to be eligible for elective alterations
Level
Basic
Instructional Method
Self-Study
NASBA Field of Study
Taxes (2 hours)
Program Prerequisites
None
Advance Preparation
None
Instructor
Patrick McCormick
Patrick McCormick is an attorney with over a dozen years of experience, focusing his practice specifically on international taxation. Mr. McCormick represents both business and individual clients on all aspects of United States international tax rules, both from an income tax and estate/gift tax perspective. Having previously served as a partner at a large law firm, a midsized accounting firm, and a boutique tax law firm, Patrick’s client exposures have covered every conceivable area of American-side international tax matters. Patrick has also represented every type of taxpayer – from multibillion-dollar business enterprises and ultra-high net worth individuals to startups and individuals with complex questions but limited budgets.
Mr. McCormick has worked with clients located in over 90 countries on American tax considerations of multinational activities, cultivating specialized knowledge in every area of United States international tax rules. His explicit practice focus has facilitated an unparalleled expertise in the field; Patrick is trusted by clients and advisors around the world to obtain optimal results on international tax matters.
Mr. McCormick is a primary and prolific authority on tax matters. He has spoken on all aspects of international tax to hundreds of thousands of attendees around the globe, functioning as the primary international tax resource for many national organizations. Patrick has presented for the American Bar Association, the American Immigration Law Association, and state and local bar associations around the United States. He is a regular contributor to America’s premier tax law publications, including Tax Notes, Journal of Taxation, Tax Notes International, Law360, and Practical Tax Lawyer.
Mr. McCormick published his first treatise on international tax matters, Allocation and Apportionment Rules Under Secs. 861-865, for Thomson Reuters’ Catalyst platform, in October 2021. In late 2021, he also released a 15-hour digital course entirely dedicated to nonresident taxation, United States Tax Considerations for Nonresident Taxpayers. Mr. McCormick has been named a Super Lawyers Rising Star from 2016-2022.
Mr. McCormick counsels a range of clients from individuals to businesses with their international tax and legal needs. When counseling individual clients, Mr. McCormick assists with residency planning, asset ownership structuring, and minimization of global income tax bills for foreign-sourced income items. His business client representation includes an extensive scope of multinational transactions, including classification of foreign entities, options for structuring multinational transactions, and minimization of American anti-deferral tax mechanisms. Mr. McCormick’s specific and comprehensive practice allows him to assist clients when international factors are most relevant.