[4830-01-u] DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY Internal Revenue Service 26 CFR Part 31 [TD 8604] RIN 1545-AS22 Liability of Third Parties Paying or Providing for Wages: Suit Period and Its Extension and Maximum Amount Recoverable. AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Treasury. ACTION: Final regulations. SUMMARY: This document contains final regulations regarding the liability of lenders, sureties, or other third persons for withholding taxes when those persons have supplied funds, either directly to employees or to or for the account of an employer, for the specific purpose of paying wages of the employees of that employer. The final regulations affect third parties paying or providing for wages. EFFECTIVE DATE: August 1, 1995. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert A. Walker, (202) 622-3640 (not a toll-free number). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background These final regulations contain changes to 31.3505-1. Section 3505 of the Internal Revenue Code (Code) was added by section 105(a) of the Federal Tax Lien Act of 1966, Pub. L. 89-719 (1966). Treasury regulations were issued with an effective date of August 19, 1976 (TD 7430). Neither the Code section nor the regulations has been amended since enactment or issuance, respectively. The IRS published a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register on November 22, 1994, (59 FR 60099) providing proposed rules under section 3505 of the Code. No public comments were received and accordingly, the final regulations are identical to the proposed regulations. Explanation of Provisions Under section 3505(b), if a lender, surety, or other person (the lender) supplies funds to or for the account of an employer for the specific purpose of paying wages of the employees of that employer, and the lender has actual notice or knowledge (within the meaning of section 6323(i)(1)) that the employer does not intend or will not be able to make timely payment or deposit of the required withholding taxes, the lender shall be liable to the United States in a sum equal to the taxes (together with interest) that are not paid over to the United States by the employer with respect to those wages. The lender's liability for withholding taxes, in lieu of the employer, is limited to an amount equal to 25 percent of the amount of wages so supplied to or for the account of the employer. See section 3505(b) (final sentence). Existing regulations provide that the 25-percent limitation applies only to the tax, and not the interest on that tax, with the result that the lender could be held liable for more than 25 percent of the amount of funds it supplied. The courts that have addressed this issue, however, have held that the 25-percent limitation on the amount of wages supplied by a third party is an absolute cap with respect to the recovery of withholding taxes and prejudgment interest. United States v. Metro Constr. Co., Inc., 602 F.2d 879 (9th Cir. 1979); United States v. Intercontinental Ind., Inc., 635 F.2d 1215 (6th Cir. 1980); United States v. Hannan Co., 639 F.2d 284 (5th Cir. 1981); Taubman v. United States, 449 F. Supp. 520 (E.D. Mich. 1978). See also O'Hare v. United States, 878 F.2d 953 (6th Cir. 1989); United States v. Security Pacific Business Credit, Inc., 956 F.2d 703 (7th Cir. 1992); United States v. Vaccarella, 735 F. Supp. 1421 (S.D. Ind. 1990). These final regulations conform to judicial interpretation and clarify that interest will continue to be computed in addition to any withholding tax liability, but only to an overall maximum of 25 percent of the amount of the funds supplied by the lender. The final regulations also change the period of limitations for collection of the withholding taxes and interest from six years to ten years. This revision will conform the period of limitations for the purposes of section 3505 with the general rule on limitations on collection. See section 6502, amended by the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990, Pub. L. 101-508, section 11317(a)(1) (1990). Finally, 31.3505-1(d)(3) has been added to provide for extensions of the period of limitation for collection because, on occasion, the IRS or the lender requires additional time for compliance with the regulation. Special Analyses It has been determined that this Treasury decision is not a significant regulatory action as defined in EO 12866. Therefore, a regulatory assessment is not required. It has also been determined that section 553(b) of the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 5) and the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 6) do not apply to these regulations, and, therefore, a Regulatory Flexibility Analysis is not required. Pursuant to section 7805(f) of the Internal Revenue Code, the notice of proposed rulemaking was submitted to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration for comment on its impact on small business. Drafting Information The principal author of these final regulations is Robert Walker, Office of Assistant Chief Counsel (General Litigation). However, other personnel from the IRS and Treasury Department participated in their development. List of Subjects in 26 CFR Part 31 Employment taxes, Income taxes, Penalties, Pensions, Railroad retirement, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Social Security, Unemployment compensation. Adoption of Amendments to the Regulations Accordingly, 26 CFR part 31 is amended as follows: Part 31--EMPLOYMENT TAXES Paragraph 1. The authority citation for part 31 continues to read in part as follows: Authority: 26 U.S.C. 7805 * * * Paragraph 2. Section 31.3505-1 is amended by: 1. Removing the phrase "for such taxes" from the second sentence of paragraph (b)(1). 2. Removing the phrase ", plus interest thereon" from the final sentence of paragraph (b)(2), Example (1). 3. Removing the phrase "for withholding taxes" from the fifth sentence of paragraph (b)(2), Example (2). 4. Removing the phrase "plus interest thereon" from the final sentence of paragraph (b)(2), Example (2). 5. Revising the final sentence of paragraph (d)(1). 6. Revising the final sentence of paragraph (d)(2)(iii). 7. Adding paragraphs (d)(3) and (g). The additions and revisions read as follows: 31.3505-1 Liability of third parties paying or providing for wages. * * * * * (d) * * * (1) * * * In the event that the lender, surety, or other person does not satisfy the liability imposed by section 3505, the United States may collect the liability by appropriate civil proceedings commenced within 10 years after assessment of the tax against the employer. * * * * * (2) * * * (iii) * * * Thus, after the second payment by the employer, the lender's liability under section 3505(b) is $75 ($250 less $175), plus interest due on the underpayment for the period of underpayment, to a maximum of $250, 25 percent of the funds supplied. (3) Extensions of the period for collection. Prior to the expiration of the 10-year period for collection after assessment against the employer, the lender, surety, or other third party may agree in writing with the district director, service center director, or compliance center director to extend the 10-year period for collection. The period so agreed upon may be extended by subsequent agreements in writing made before the expiration of the period previously agreed upon. If any timely proceeding in court for the collection of the tax and any applicable interest is commenced, the period during which such tax and interest may be collected shall be extended and shall not expire until the liability for the tax (or a judgment against the lender, surety, or other third party arising from such liability) is satisfied or becomes unenforceable. * * * * * (g) Effective date. These regulations are effective on August 1, 1995. Margaret Milner Richardson Commissioner of Internal Revenue Approved: June 21, 1995 Leslie Samuels Assistant Secretary of the Treasury