If a private foundation is involved in litigation and may not distribute assets or income because of a court order, it may seek and obtain a set-aside for the purpose of making a qualifying distribution. The amount that may be set aside is equal to the part of the foundation's distributable amount that is attributable to the assets or income held under the court order that would otherwise have been distributed. If the litigation lasts more than one tax year, the foundation may seek additional contingent set-asides. The amounts must actually be distributed by the last day of the tax year following the tax year in which the proceedings end. Amounts the foundation does not distribute by the end of that year will be considered gross income to the foundation for the following tax year.
