Tag: CCA/CSA

A cost contribution arrangement or cost sharing arrangement (CCA/CSA) is a contractual arrangement among business enterprises to share the contributions and risks involved in the joint development, production or the obtaining of intangibles, tangible assets or services with the understanding that such intangibles, tangible assets or services are expected to create benefits for the individual businesses of each of the participants.

European Commission vs Amazon and Luxembourg, December 2023, European Court of Justice, Case No C‑457/21 P

In 2017 the European Commission concluded that Luxembourg had granted undue tax benefits to Amazon of around €250 million. According to the Commission, a tax ruling issued by Luxembourg in 2003 – and prolonged in 2011 – lowered the tax paid by Amazon in Luxembourg without any valid justification. The tax ruling enabled Amazon to shift the vast majority of its profits from an Amazon group company that is subject to tax in Luxembourg (Amazon EU) to a company which is not subject to tax (Amazon Europe Holding Technologies). In particular, the tax ruling endorsed the payment of a royalty from Amazon EU to Amazon Europe Holding Technologies, which significantly reduced Amazon EU’s taxable profits. This decision was brought before the European Courts by Luxembourg and Amazon, and in May 2021 the General Court found that Luxembourg’s tax treatment of Amazon was not illegal under EU State aid rules. An appeal was then filed by the European Commission with the European Court of Justice. Judgement of the Court The European Court of Justice upheld the decision of the General Court and annulled the decision of the European Commission. However, it did so for different reasons. According to the Court of Justice, the OECD Transfer Pricing Guidelines were not part of the legal framework against which a selective advantage should be assessed, since Luxembourg had not implemented these guidelines. Thus, although the General Court relied on an incorrect legal framework, it had reached the correct result. Click here for other translation CURIA - Documents ...

Norway vs Eni Norge AS , September 2023, District Court, Case No TSRO-2022-185908

Eni Norge AS was a wholly owned subsidiary of Eni International B.V., a Dutch company. Both companies were part of the Eni Group, in which the Italian company Eni S.p.A was the HQ. Eni Norway had deducted costs related to the purchase of “technical services” from Eni S.p.A. Following an audit, the tax authorities reduced these deductions pursuant to section 13-1 of the Taxation Act (arm’s length provision). This meant that Eni Norway’s income was increased by NOK 32,673,457 in FY 2015 and NOK 16,752,728 in FY 2016. The tax assessment issued by the tax authorities was later confirmed by a decision of the Petroleum Tax Appeal Board. The Appeals Board considered that there were price deviations between the intra-group hourly rates for technical services and the external hourly rates. The price deviations could be due to errors in the cost base and/or a lack of arm’s length in the distribution of costs. There was thus a discretionary right pursuant to section 13-1, first paragraph, of the Tax Act. Eni Norge A/S applied to the District Court for a review of the decision refering to a previous judgement from the Norwegian Supreme Court HR-2020-1130-A (the Shell R&D judgement). Judgement of the District Court The court did not find that the decision of the Appeals Board was based on incorrect facts or application of the law and upheld the decision. Excerpts “The Supreme Court held that the correct approach was to base the assessment on what was actually the cost burden for Norske Shell. Costs covered by others should not be included (paragraph 57). The Court cannot see that this judgement provides guidance for our case, because it concerns a different fact. The Supreme Court assumed that it concerned a case with an agreed cost contribution scheme: 51-52: (51) In the legislative proposal in connection with the addition of section 13-1 fourth paragraph of the Tax Act in 2007, Proposition No. 62 (2006-2007), the Ministry reviewed the content of the OECD Transfer Pricing Guidelines. Section 5.9 of the proposal provides an account of the guidelines relating to cost contribution arrangements (CCA) – referred to in the guidelines as Cost Contribution Arrangements (CCA). The content of such arrangements is described as follows: “A CCA is a contractual framework for sharing the costs and risks associated with the development, production or acquisition of assets, services or rights. The participants seek to obtain an expected benefit through their contributions to the KBO. Under a KBO, each participant will have the right to utilise its interests in the KBO as the actual owner of these, and the participants will thus not be liable to pay royalties or other remuneration to any other party for the utilisation of their interests in the arrangement. The most common KBOs are arrangements for joint development of intangible assets, but KBOs are also established for other purposes.” In my view, it is in good accordance with the arm’s length principle that follows from Section 13-1 of the Tax Act and the OECD Guidelines, when the Complaints Board in its decision has assumed that the relationship between Norske Shell and the group companies involves a cost-sharing arrangement. In this case, there is no transfer of assets for a consideration to be determined on the basis of the commercial principles that would apply to an ordinary sale of goods, services or rights.” The situation in our case concerns a case that the Supreme Court has limited itself to, namely the purchase of services between mother and daughter, which must be considered a transfer of assets for consideration. An ordinary sale has taken place. The service agreement and the individual sales do not involve a cost contribution scheme. Nor did the agreement state that revenues were to be deducted in a cost sharing arrangement, as was the situation in the Shell R&D judgement. The fact that the accounting agreement contains provisions on cost allocation between the licence partners does not change the facts. It concerns the sale of services between two independent parties, Eni S.p.A and Eni Norge. In the assessment, the income shall be determined as if the community of interest had not existed, cf. section 13-1, third paragraph, of the Tax Act. The Court agrees with the reasoning of the majority of the Appeals Board: “In the assessment, the income shall be determined as if the community of interest had not existed, cf. section 13-1 third paragraph of the Tax Act. § Section 13-1, third paragraph. If independent parties would have viewed the transactions in context, it is natural to do so also in controlled transactions. An independent service provider in a similar arrangement would naturally demand payment for all the services provided, regardless of whether the service recipient is subsequently re-invoiced or reimbursed for the costs of some of the services by others. An independent service recipient in such an arrangement would also accept to pay for all the services, but no more than what similar services would cost in the open market. This must also apply to the services that Eni Norge can charge the licence partners under the accounting agreement.” Without it being of decisive importance for the Court’s assessment, the Plaintiff has not been as clear in the administrative proceedings that there is a pure passing on of the service costs to the licence partners as it was during the main hearing. The Court refers to this description by the majority of the Board of Appeal of the charge: (…) As the Court understands the Plaintiff’s response during the proceedings, it confirms that there is not full correspondence between the costs from the purchase of the service from Eni S.p.A and the onward charge. The Plaintiff has at best been very unclear on this point. This supports the Court’s assessment that the transactions must be assessed separately. As stated, this is not decisive for the Court’s conclusion. The Court has no need to problematise the principle that it can only rely on the facts presented by the ...

Denmark vs Maersk Oil and Gas A/S (TotalEnergies EP Danmark A/S), September 2023, Supreme Court, Case No BS-15265/2022-HJR and BS-16812/2022-HJR

Maersk Oil and Gas A/S (later TotalEnergies EP Danmark A/S) continued to make operating losses, although the group’s combined oil and gas operations were highly profitable. Following an audit of Maersk Oil, the tax authorities considered that three items did not comply with the arm’s length principle. Maersk Oil incurred all the expenses for preliminary studies of where oil and gas could be found, but the results of these investigations and discoveries were handed over to the newly established subsidiaries free of charge. Licence agreements were signed with Qatar and Algeria for oil extraction. These agreements were entered into with the subsidiaries as contracting parties, but it was Maersk Oil that guaranteed that the subsidiaries could fulfil their obligations and committed to make the required technology and know-how available. Expert assistance (time writing) was provided to the subsidiaries, but these services were remunerated at cost with no profit to Maersk Oil. An assessment was issued where additional taxable income was determined on an aggregated basis as a share of profits from the activities – corresponding to a royalty of approximately 1,7 % of the turnover in the two subsidiaries. In 2018, the Tax Court upheld the decision and Maersk Oil and Gas A/S subsequently appealed to the High Court. In 2022, the High Court held that the subsidiaries in Algeria and Qatar owned the licences for oil extraction, both formally and in fact. In this regard, there was therefore no transaction. Furthermore the explorations studies in question were not completed until the 1990s and Maersk Oil and Gas A/S had not incurred any costs for the subsequent phases of the oil extraction. These studies therefore did not constitute controlled transactions. The Court therefore found no basis for an annual remuneration in the form of royalties or profit shares from the subsidiaries in Algeria and Qatar. On the other hand, the Regional Court found that Maersk Oil and Gas A/S’ so-called performance guarantees for the subsidiaries in Algeria and Qatar were controlled transactions and should therefore be priced at arm’s length. In addition, the Court found that technical and administrative assistance (so-called time writing) to the subsidiaries in Algeria and Qatar at cost was not in line with what could have been obtained if the transactions had been concluded between independent parties. These transactions should therefore also be priced at arm’s length. The High Court referred the cases back to the tax authorities for reconsideration. An appeal was then filed by the tax authorities with the Supreme Court. Judgement of the Supreme Court The Supreme Court decided in favour of the tax authorities and upheld the original assessment. The court stated that the preliminary exploration phases in connection with oil exploration and performance guarantees and the related know-how had an economic value for the subsidiaries, for which an independent party would require ongoing payment in the form of profit share, royalty or the like. They therefore constituted controlled transactions. Furthermore, the court stated that Maersk Oil and Gas A/S’ delivery of timewriting at cost price was outside the scope of what could have been achieved if the agreement had been entered into at arm’s length. Finally, the transactions were considered to be so closely related that they had to be assessed and priced on an aggregated basis and Maersk Oil and Gas A/S had not provided any basis for overturning the tax authorities’ assessment. Click here for English translation Click here for other translation Denmark vs Mogas September 2023 Suprem Court Case no 15265-16812-2022 ...

§ 1.482-7(m)(3) Special rule for certain periodic adjustments.

The periodic adjustment rules in paragraph (i)(6) of this section (rather than the rules of § 1.482-4(f)(2)) shall apply to PCTs that occur on or after the date of a material change in the scope of the CSA from its scope as of January 5, 2009. A material change in scope would include a material expansion of the activities undertaken beyond the scope of the intangible development area, as described in former § 1.482-7(b)(4)(iv). For this purpose, a contraction of the scope of a CSA, absent a material expansion into one or more lines of research and development beyond the scope of the intangible development area, does not constitute a material change in scope of the CSA. Whether a material change in scope has occurred is determined on a cumulative basis. Therefore, a series of expansions, any one of which is not a material expansion by itself, may collectively constitute a material expansion ...

§ 1.482-7(m)(2) Transitional modification of applicable provisions.

For purposes of this paragraph (m), conformity and substantial compliance with the provisions of this section shall be determined with the following modifications: (i) CSTs and PCTs occurring prior to January 5, 2009, shall be subject to the provisions of former § 1.482-7 rather than this section. (ii) Except to the extent provided in paragraph (m)(3) of this section, PCTs that occur under a CSA that was a qualified cost sharing arrangement under the provisions of former § 1.482-7 and remained in effect on January 5, 2009, shall be subject to the periodic adjustment rules of § 1.482-4(f)(2) rather than the rules of paragraph (i)(6) of this section. (iii) Paragraphs (b)(1)(iii) and (b)(4) of this section shall not apply. (iv) Paragraph (k)(1)(ii)(D) of this section shall not apply. (v) Paragraphs (k)(1)(ii)(H) and (I) of this section shall be construed as applying only to transactions entered into on or after January 5, 2009. (vi) The deadline for recordation of the revised written contractual agreement pursuant to paragraph (k)(1)(iii) of this section shall be no later than July 6, 2009. (vii) Paragraphs (k)(2)(ii)(G) through (J) of this section shall be construed as applying only with reference to PCTs entered into on or after January 5, 2009. (viii) Paragraph (k)(4)(iii)(A) of this section shall be construed as requiring a CSA Statement with respect to the revised written contractual agreement described in paragraph (m)(2)(vi) of this section no later than September 2, 2009. (ix) Paragraph (k)(4)(iii)(B) of this section shall be construed as only applying for taxable years ending after the filing of the CSA Statement described in paragraph (m)(2)(viii) of this section ...

§ 1.482-7(m)(1) In general.

An arrangement in existence on January 5, 2009, will be considered a CSA, as described under paragraph (b) of this section, if, prior to such date, it was a qualified cost sharing arrangement under the provisions of § 1.482-7 (as contained in the 26 CFR part 1 edition revised as of January 1, 1996, hereafter referred to as “former § 1.482-7â€), but only if the written contract, as described in paragraph (k)(1) of this section, is amended, if necessary, to conform with, and only if the activities of the controlled participants substantially comply with, the provisions of this section, as modified by paragraphs (m)(2) and (m)(3) of this section, by July 6, 2009 ...

§ 1.482-7(l) Effective/applicability dates.

Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph (l), this section applies on December 16, 2011. Paragraphs (g)(2)(v)(B)(2), (g)(4)(vi)(F)(2), and (g)(4)(viii), Example 8 of this section apply to taxable years beginning on or after December 19, 2011. Paragraphs (g)(4)(v) and (g)(4)(viii), Example 9 apply to taxable years beginning on or after August 27, 2013 ...

§ 1.482-7(k)(4)(iv) Example 2.

The facts are the same as in Example 1, except that a year has passed and C, which files a U.S. tax return, joined the CSA on May 9, Year 2. To comply with the annual filing requirement described in paragraph (k)(4)(iii)(B) of this section, A and B must each attach copies of their respective CSA Statements (as filed for Year 1) to their respective Year 2 income tax returns, along with a schedule updated appropriately to reflect the changes in information described in paragraph (k)(4)(ii) of this section resulting from the addition of C to the CSA. To comply with both the 90-day rule described in paragraph (k)(4)(iii)(A) of this section and the annual filing requirement described in paragraph (k)(4)(iii)(B) of this section, C must file a CSA Statement no later than 90 days after May 9, Year 2 (August 7, Year 2), and must attach a copy of such CSA Statement to its Year 2 income tax return ...

§ 1.482-7(k)(4)(iv) Example 1.

A and B, both of which file U.S. tax returns, agree to share the costs of developing a new chemical formula in accordance with the provisions of this section. On March 30, Year 1, A and B record their agreement in a written contract styled, “Cost Sharing Agreement.†The contract applies by its terms to IDCs occurring after March 1, Year 1. The first IDCs to which the CSA applies occurred on March 15, Year 1. To comply with paragraph (k)(4)(iii)(A) of this section, A and B individually must file separate CSA Statements no later than 90 days after March 15, Year 1 (June 13, Year 1). Further, to comply with paragraph (k)(4)(iii)(B) of this section, A and B must attach copies of their respective CSA Statements to their respective Year 1 U.S. income tax returns ...

§ 1.482-7(k)(4)(iv) Examples.

The following examples illustrate this paragraph (k)(4). In each example, Companies A and B are members of the same controlled group ...

§ 1.482-7(k)(4)(iii)(B)(2) Special filing rule for annual return requirement.

If a controlled participant is not required to file a U.S. income tax return, the participant must ensure that the copy or copies of the CSA Statement and any updates are attached to Schedule M of any Form 5471, any Form 5472 “Information Return of a Foreign Owned Corporation,†or any Form 8865 “Return of U.S. Persons With Respect to Certain Foreign Partnerships,†filed with respect to that participant ...

§ 1.482-7(k)(4)(iii)(B)(1) In general.

Each controlled participant must attach to its U.S. income tax return, for each taxable year for the duration of the CSA, a copy of the original CSA Statement that the controlled participant filed in accordance with the 90-day rule of paragraph (k)(4)(iii)(A) of this section. In addition, the controlled participant must update the information reflected on the original CSA Statement annually by attaching a schedule that documents changes in such information over time ...

§ 1.482-7(k)(4)(iii)(A) 90-day rule.

Each controlled participant must file its original CSA Statement with the Internal Revenue Service Ogden Campus (addressed as follows: “Attn: CSA Statements, Mail Stop 4912, Internal Revenue Service, 1973 North Rulon White Blvd., Ogden, Utah 84404-0040â€), no later than 90 days after the first occurrence of an IDC to which the newly-formed CSA applies, as described in paragraph (k)(1)(iii)(A) of this section, or, in the case of a taxpayer that became a controlled participant after the formation of the CSA, no later than 90 days after such taxpayer became a controlled participant. A CSA Statement filed in accordance with this paragraph (k)(4)(iii)(A) must be dated and signed, under penalties of perjury, by an officer of the controlled participant who is duly authorized (under local law) to sign the statement on behalf of the controlled participant ...

§ 1.482-7(k)(4)(ii) Content of CSA Statement.

The CSA Statement of each controlled participant must – (A) State that the participant is a controlled participant in a CSA; (B) Provide the controlled participant’s taxpayer identification number; (C) List the other controlled participants in the CSA, the country of organization of each such participant, and the taxpayer identification number of each such participant; (D) Specify the earliest date that any IDC described in paragraph (d)(1) of this section occurred; and (E) Indicate the date on which the controlled participants formed (or revised) the CSA and, if different from such date, the date on which the controlled participants recorded the CSA (or any revision) contemporaneously in accordance with paragraphs (k)(1)(i) and (iii) of this section ...

§ 1.482-7(k)(4)(i) CSA Statement.

Each controlled participant must file with the Internal Revenue Service, in the manner described in this paragraph (k)(4), a “Statement of Controlled Participant to § 1.482-7 Cost Sharing Arrangement†(CSA Statement) that complies with the requirements of this paragraph (k)(4) ...

§ 1.482-7(k)(3)(ii) Reliance on financial accounting.

For purposes of this section, the controlled participants may not rely solely upon financial accounting to establish satisfaction of the accounting requirements of this paragraph (k)(3). Rather, the method of accounting must clearly reflect income. Thor Power Tools Co. v. Commissioner, 439 U.S. 522 (1979) ...

§ 1.482-7(k)(3)(i) In general.

The controlled participants must maintain books and records (and related or underlying data and information) that are sufficient to – (A) Establish that the controlled participants have used (and are using) a consistent method of accounting to measure costs and benefits; (B) Permit verification that the amount of any contingent PCT Payments due have been (and are being) properly determined; (C) Translate foreign currencies on a consistent basis; and (D) To the extent that the method of accounting used materially differs from U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, explain any such material differences ...

§ 1.482-7(k)(2)(iii)(B) Production of documentation.

Each controlled participant must provide to the Commissioner, within 30 days of a request, the items described in this paragraph (k)(2) and paragraph (k)(3) of this section. The time for compliance described in this paragraph (k)(2)(iii)(B) may be extended at the discretion of the Commissioner ...

§ 1.482-7(k)(2)(iii)(A) Coordination with penalty regulations.

See § 1.6662-6(d)(2)(iii)(D) regarding coordination of the rules of this paragraph (k) with the documentation requirements for purposes of the accuracy-related penalty under section 6662(e) and (h) ...

§ 1.482-7(k)(2)(ii) Additional CSA documentation requirements.

The controlled participants to a CSA must timely update and maintain documentation sufficient to – (A) Describe the current scope of the IDA and identify – (1) Any additions or subtractions from the list of reasonably anticipated cost shared intangibles reported pursuant to paragraph (k)(1)(ii)(B) of this section; (2) Any cost shared intangible, together with each controlled participant’s interest therein; and (3) Any further development of intangibles already developed under the CSA or of specified applications of such intangible which has been removed from the IDA (see paragraphs (d)(1)(ii) and (j)(1)(i) of this section for the definitions of reasonably anticipated cost shared intangible and cost shared intangible) and the steps (including any accounting classifications and allocations) taken to implement such removal; (B) Establish that each controlled participant reasonably anticipates that it will derive benefits from exploiting cost shared intangibles; (C) Describe the functions and risks that each controlled participant has undertaken during the term of the CSA; (D) Provide an overview of each controlled participant’s business segments, including an analysis of the economic and legal factors that affect CST and PCT pricing; (E) Establish the amount of each controlled participant’s IDCs for each taxable year under the CSA, including all IDCs attributable to stock-based compensation, as described in paragraph (d)(3) of this section (including the method of measurement and timing used in determining such IDCs, and the data, as of the date of grant, used to identify stock-based compensation with the IDA); (F) Describe the method used to estimate each controlled participant’s RAB share for each year during the course of the CSA, including – (1) All projections used to estimate benefits; (2) All updates of the RAB shares in accordance with paragraph (e)(1) of this section; and (3) An explanation of why that method was selected and why the method provides the most reliable measure for estimating RAB shares; (G) Describe all platform contributions; (H) Designate the type of transaction involved for each PCT or group of PCTs; (I) Specify, within the time period provided in paragraph (h)(2)(iii) of this section, the form of payment due under each PCT or group of PCTs, including information and explanation that reasonably supports an analysis of applicable provisions of paragraph (h) of this section; (J) Describe and explain the method selected to determine the arm’s length payment due under each PCT, including – (1) An explanation of why the method selected constitutes the best method, as described in § 1.482-1(c)(2), for measuring an arm’s length result; (2) The economic analyses, data, and projections relied upon in developing and selecting the best method, including the source of the data and projections used; (3) Each alternative method that was considered, and the reason or reasons that the alternative method was not selected; (4) Any data that the controlled participant obtains, after the CSA takes effect, that would help determine if the controlled participant’s method selected has been applied in a reasonable manner; (5) The discount rate or rates, where applicable, used for purposes of evaluating PCT Payments, including information and explanation that reasonably supports an analysis of applicable provisions of paragraph (g)(2)(v) of this section; (6) The estimated arm’s length values of any platform contributions as of the dates of the relevant PCTs, in accordance with paragraph (g)(2)(ii) of this section; (7) A discussion, where applicable, of why transactions were or were not aggregated under the principles of paragraph (g)(2)(iv) of this section; (8) The method payment form and any conversion made from the method payment form to the specified payment form, as described in paragraph (h)(3) of this section; and (9) If applicable under paragraph (i)(6)(iv) of this section, the WACC of the parent of the controlled group that includes the controlled participants ...

§ 1.482-7(k)(2)(i) In general.

The controlled participants must timely update and maintain sufficient documentation to establish that the participants have met the CSA contractual requirements of paragraph (k)(1) of this section and the additional CSA documentation requirements of this paragraph (k)(2) ...

§ 1.482-7(k)(1)(iv)(B) Example 2.

An arrangement that purports to be a CSA provides that PCT Payments with respect to a particular platform contribution shall be contingent payments equal to 10% of sales of products that incorporate cost shared intangibles. The contract terms further provide that the controlled participants must adjust such contingent payments in accordance with a formula set forth in the terms. During the first three years of the arrangement, the controlled participants fail to make the adjustments required by the terms with respect to the PCT Payments. The Commissioner may determine, based on the facts and circumstances, that – (i) The contingent payment terms with respect to the platform contribution do not have economic substance because the controlled participants did not act in accordance with their upfront risk allocation; or (ii) The contract terms reflect the economic substance of the arrangement and, therefore, the actual payments must be adjusted to conform to the terms ...

§ 1.482-7(k)(1)(iv)(B) Example 1.

The contractual provisions recorded upon formation of an arrangement that purports to be a CSA provide that PCT Payments with respect to a particular platform contribution will consist of payments contingent on sales. Contrary to the contractual provisions, the PCT Payments actually made are contingent on profits. Because the controlled participants’ actual conduct is different from the contractual terms, the Commissioner may determine, based on the facts and circumstances, that – (i) The actual payments have economic substance and, therefore, impute payment terms in the CSA consistent with the actual payments; or (ii) The contract terms reflect the economic substance of the arrangement and, therefore, the actual payments must be adjusted to conform to the terms ...

§ 1.482-7(k)(1)(iv)(B) Examples.

The following examples illustrate the principles of this paragraph (k)(1)(iv). In each example, it is assumed that the Commissioner will exercise the discretion granted pursuant to paragraph (b)(5)(ii) of this section to apply the provisions of this section to the arrangement that purports to be a CSA ...

§ 1.482-7(k)(1)(iv)(A) In general.

The provisions of a written contract described in this paragraph (k)(1) and of the additional documentation described in paragraph (k)(2) of this section must be clear and unambiguous. The provisions will be interpreted by reference to the economic substance of the transaction and the actual conduct of the controlled participants. See § 1.482-1(d)(3)(ii)(B) (Identifying contractual terms). Accordingly, the Commissioner may impute contractual terms in a CSA consistent with the economic substance of the CSA and may disregard contractual terms that lack economic substance. An allocation of risk between controlled participants after the outcome of such risk is known or reasonably knowable lacks economic substance. See § 1.482-1(d)(3)(iii)(B) (Identification of taxpayer that bears risk). A contractual term that is disregarded due to a lack of economic substance does not satisfy a contractual requirement set forth in this paragraph (k)(1) or documentation requirement set forth in paragraph (k)(2) of this section. See paragraph (b)(5) of this section for the treatment of an arrangement among controlled taxpayers that fails to comply with the requirements of this section ...

§ 1.482-7(k)(1)(iii)(B) Example.

Companies A and B, both of which are members of the same controlled group, commence an IDA on March 1, Year 1. Company A pays the first IDCs in relation to the IDA, as cash salaries to A’s research staff, for the staff’s work during the first week of March, Year 1. A and B, however, do not sign and date any written contractual agreement until August 1, Year 1, whereupon they execute a “Cost Sharing Agreement†that purports to be “effective as of†March 1 of Year 1. The arrangement fails the requirement that the participants record their arrangement in a written contractual agreement that is contemporaneous with the formation of a CSA. The arrangement has failed to meet the requirements set forth in paragraph (b)(2) of this section and, pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section, cannot be a CSA ...

§ 1.482-7(k)(1)(iii)(A) In general.

For purposes of this paragraph (k)(1), a written contractual agreement is contemporaneous with the formation (or revision) of a CSA if, and only if, the controlled participants record the CSA, in its entirety, in a document that they sign and date no later than 60 days after the first occurrence of any IDC described in paragraph (d) of this section to which such agreement (or revision) is to apply ...

§ 1.482-7(k)(1)(ii) Contractual provisions.

The written contract described in this paragraph (k)(1) must include provisions that – (A) List the controlled participants and any other members of the controlled group that are reasonably anticipated to benefit from the use of the cost shared intangibles, including the address of each domestic entity and the country of organization of each foreign entity; (B) Describe the scope of the IDA to be undertaken and each reasonably anticipated cost shared intangible or class of reasonably anticipated cost shared intangibles; (C) Specify the functions and risks that each controlled participant will undertake in connection with the CSA; (D) Divide among the controlled participants all divisional interests in cost shared intangibles and specify each controlled participant’s divisional interest in the cost shared intangibles, as described in paragraphs (b)(1)(iii) and (4) of this section, that it will own and exploit without any further obligation to compensate any other controlled participant for such interest; (E) Provide a method to calculate the controlled participants’ RAB shares, based on factors that can reasonably be expected to reflect the participants’ shares of anticipated benefits, and require that such RAB shares must be updated, as described in paragraph (e)(1) of this section (see also paragraph (k)(2)(ii)(F) of this section); (F) Enumerate all categories of IDCs to be shared under the CSA; (G) Specify that the controlled participant must use a consistent method of accounting to determine IDCs and RAB shares, as described in paragraphs (d) and (e) of this section, respectively, and must translate foreign currencies on a consistent basis; (H) Require the controlled participant to enter into CSTs covering all IDCs, as described in paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section, in connection with the CSA; (I) Require the controlled participants to enter into PCTs covering all platform contributions, as described in paragraph (b)(1)(ii) of this section, in connection with the CSA; (J) Specify the form of payment due under each PCT (or group of PCTs) in existence at the formation (and any revision) of the CSA, including information and explanation that reasonably supports an analysis of applicable provisions of paragraph (h) of this section; and (K) Specify the date on which the CSA is entered into (CSA Start Date) and the duration of the CSA, the conditions under which the CSA may be modified or terminated, and the consequences of a modification or termination (including consequences described under the rules of paragraph (f) of this section) ...

§ 1.482-7(k)(1)(i) In general.

A CSA must be recorded in writing in a contract that is contemporaneous with the formation (and any revision) of the CSA and that includes the contractual provisions described in this paragraph (k)(1) ...

§ 1.482-7(k) CSA administrative requirements.

A controlled participant meets the requirements of this paragraph if it substantially complies, respectively, with the CSA contractual, documentation, accounting, and reporting requirements of paragraphs (k)(1) through (4) of this section ...

§ 1.482-7(j)(3)(iii) Example 3.

(i) Four members (A, B, C, and D) of a controlled group form a CSA to develop the next generation technology for their business. Based on RAB shares, the participants agree to bear shares of the costs incurred during the term of the agreement in the following percentages: A 40%; B 15%; C 25%; and D 20%. The arm’s length values of the platform contributions they respectively own are in the following amounts for the taxable year: A 80X; B 40X; C 30X; and D 30X. The provisional (before offsets) and final PCT Payments among A, B, C, and D are shown in the table as follows: (All amounts stated in X’s) A B C D Payments <40> <21> <37.5> <30> Receipts 48 34 22.5 24 Final 8 13 <15> <6> (ii) The first row/first column shows A’s provisional PCT Payment equal to the product of 100X (sum of 40X, 30X, and 30X) and A’s RAB share of 40%. The second row/first column shows A’s provisional PCT receipts equal to the sum of the products of 80X and B’s, C’s, and D’s RAB shares (15%, 25%, and 20%, respectively). The other entries in the first two rows of the table are similarly computed. The last row shows the final PCT receipts/payments after offsets. Thus, for the taxable year, A and B are treated as receiving the 8X and 13X, respectively, pro rata out of payments by C and D of 15X and 6X, respectively ...

§ 1.482-7(j)(3)(iii) Example 2.

The facts are the same as in Example 1, except that the 100X of costs borne by USP consist of 5X of costs incurred by USP in the United States and 95X of arm’s length rental charge, as described in paragraph (d)(1)(iii) of this section, for the use of a facility in the United States. The depreciation deduction attributable to the U.S. facility is 7X. The 20X net payment by FS to USP will first be applied in reduction pro rata of the 5X deduction for costs and the 7X depreciation deduction attributable to the U.S. facility. The 8X remainder will be treated as rent for the U.S. facility ...

§ 1.482-7(j)(3)(iii) Example 1.

U.S. Parent (USP) and its wholly owned Foreign Subsidiary (FS) form a CSA to develop a miniature widget, the Small R. Based on RAB shares, USP agrees to bear 40% and FS to bear 60% of the costs incurred during the term of the agreement. The principal IDCs are operating costs incurred by FS in Country Z of 100X annually, and costs incurred by USP in the United States also of 100X annually. Of the total costs of 200X, USP’s share is 80X and FS’s share is 120X so that FS must make a payment to USP of 20X. The payment will be treated as a reimbursement of 20X of USP’s costs in the United States. Accordingly, USP’s Form 1120 will reflect an 80X deduction on account of activities performed in the United States for purposes of allocation and apportionment of the deduction to source. The Form 5471 “Information Return of U.S. Persons With Respect to Certain Foreign Corporations†for FS will reflect a 100X deduction on account of activities performed in Country Z and a 20X deduction on account of activities performed in the United States ...

§ 1.482-7(j)(3)(ii) PCT Payments.

A PCT Payor’s payment required under paragraph (b)(1)(ii) of this section is deemed to be reduced to the extent of any payments owed to it under such paragraph from other controlled participants. Each PCT Payment received by a PCT Payee will be treated as coming pro rata out of payments made by all PCT Payors. PCT Payments will be characterized consistently with the designation of the type of transaction pursuant to paragraphs (c)(3) and (k)(2)(ii)(H) of this section. Depending on such designation, such payments will be treated as either consideration for a transfer of an interest in intangible property or for services ...

§ 1.482-7(j)(3)(i) CST Payments.

CST Payments generally will be considered the payor’s costs of developing intangibles at the location where such development is conducted. For these purposes, IDCs borne directly by a controlled participant that are deductible are deemed to be reduced to the extent of any CST Payments owed to it by other controlled participants pursuant to the CSA. Each cost sharing payment received by a payee will be treated as coming pro rata from payments made by all payors and will be applied pro rata against the deductions for the taxable year that the payee is allowed in connection with the IDCs. Payments received in excess of such deductions will be treated as in consideration for use of the land and tangible property furnished for purposes of the CSA by the payee. For purposes of the research credit determined under section 41, CST Payments among controlled participants will be treated as provided for intra-group transactions in § 1.41-6(i). Any payment made or received by a taxpayer pursuant to an arrangement that the Commissioner determines not to be a CSA will be subject to the provisions of §§ 1.482-1 through 1.482-6 and 1.482-9. Any payment that in substance constitutes a cost sharing payment will be treated as such for purposes of this section, regardless of its characterization under foreign law ...

§ 1.482-7(j)(2)(iii) Partnership.

A CSA, or an arrangement to which the Commissioner applies the rules of this section, will not be treated as a partnership to which the rules of subchapter K of the Internal Revenue Code apply. See § 301.7701-1(c) of this chapter ...

§ 1.482-7(j)(2)(ii) Trade or business.

A participant that is a foreign corporation or nonresident alien individual will not be treated as engaged in a trade or business within the United States solely by reason of its participation in a CSA. See generally § 1.864-2(a) ...

§ 1.482-7(j)(2)(i) Consolidated group.

For purposes of this section, all members of the same consolidated group shall be treated as one taxpayer. For these purposes, the term consolidated group means all members of a group of controlled entities created or organized within a single country and subjected to an income tax by such country on the basis of their combined income ...

§ 1.482-7(j)(1)(ii) Example 5.

Reasonably anticipated benefits. Controlled parties A and B enter into a cost sharing arrangement to develop product and process intangibles for an already existing Product P. Without such intangibles, A and B would each reasonably anticipate revenue, in present value terms, of $100M from sales of Product P until it became obsolete. With the intangibles, A and B each reasonably anticipate selling the same number of units each year, but reasonably anticipate that the price will be higher. Because the particular product intangible is more highly regarded in A’s market, A reasonably anticipates an increase of $20M in present value revenue from the product intangible, while B reasonably anticipates only an increase of $10M. Further, A and B each reasonably anticipate spending an extra $5M present value in production costs to include the feature embodying the product intangible. Finally, A and B each reasonably anticipate saving $2M present value in production costs by using the process intangible. A and B reasonably anticipate no other economic effects from exploiting the cost shared intangibles. A’s reasonably anticipated benefits from exploiting the cost shared intangibles equal its reasonably anticipated increase in revenue ($20M) plus its reasonably anticipated cost savings ($2M) minus its reasonably anticipated increased costs ($5M), which equals $17M. Similarly, B’s reasonably anticipated benefits from exploiting the cost shared intangibles equal its reasonably anticipated increase in revenue ($10M) plus its reasonably anticipated cost savings ($2M) minus its reasonably anticipated increased costs ($5M), which equals $7M. Thus A’s reasonably anticipated benefits are $17M and B’s reasonably anticipated benefits are $7M ...

§ 1.482-7(j)(1)(ii) Example 4.

Cost shared intangible. The facts are the same as in Example 3, except that in the course of developing XYZ, the controlled participants by accident discover ABC, a cure for disease D. ABC is a cost shared intangible under the CSA ...

§ 1.482-7(j)(1)(ii) Example 3.

Cost shared intangible, reasonably anticipated cost shared intangible. U.S. Parent (USP) has developed and currently exploits an antihistamine, XY, which is manufactured in tablet form. USP enters into a CSA with its wholly-owned foreign subsidiary (FS) to develop XYZ, a new improved version of XY that will be manufactured as a nasal spray. Work under the CSA is fully devoted to developing XYZ, and XYZ is developed. During the development period, XYZ is a reasonably anticipated cost shared intangible under the CSA. Once developed, XYZ is a cost shared intangible under the CSA ...

§ 1.482-7(j)(1)(ii) Example 2.

Controlled participants. (i) U.S. Parent (USP), one foreign subsidiary (FS), and a second foreign subsidiary constituting the group’s research arm (R + D) enter into a CSA to develop manufacturing intangibles for a new product line A. USP and FS are assigned the exclusive rights to exploit the intangibles respectively in the United States and the rest of the world, where each presently manufactures and sells various existing product lines. R + D is not assigned any rights to exploit the intangibles. R + D’s activity consists solely in carrying out research for the group. It is reliably projected that the RAB shares of USP and FS will be 662â„3% and 331â„3%, respectively, and the parties’ agreement provides that USP and FS will reimburse 662â„3% and 331â„3%, respectively, of the IDCs incurred by R + D with respect to the new intangible. (ii) R + D does not qualify as a controlled participant within the meaning of paragraph (j)(1)(i) of this section, because it will not derive any benefits from exploiting cost shared intangibles. Therefore, R + D is treated as a service provider for purposes of this section and must receive arm’s length consideration for the assistance it is deemed to provide to USP and FS, under the rules of paragraph (a)(3) of this section and §§ 1.482-4(f)(3)(iii) and (4), and 1.482-9, as appropriate. Such consideration must be treated as IDCs incurred by USP and FS in proportion to their RAB shares (that is, 662â„3% and 331â„3%, respectively). R + D will not be considered to bear any share of the IDCs under the arrangement ...

§ 1.482-7(j)(1)(ii) Example 1.

Controlled participant. Foreign Parent (FP) is a foreign corporation engaged in the extraction of a natural resource. FP has a U.S. subsidiary (USS) to which FP sells supplies of this resource for sale in the United States. FP enters into a CSA with USS to develop a new machine to extract the natural resource. The machine uses a new extraction process that will be patented in the United States and in other countries. The CSA provides that USS will receive the rights to exploit the machine in the extraction of the natural resource in the United States, and FP will receive the rights in the rest of the world. This resource does not, however, exist in the United States. Despite the fact that USS has received the right to exploit this process in the United States, USS is not a controlled participant because it will not derive a benefit from exploiting the intangible developed under the CSA ...

§ 1.482-7(j)(1)(ii) Examples.

The following examples illustrate certain definitions in paragraph (j)(1)(i) of this section: ...

§ 1.482-7(j)(1)(i) In general. For purposes of this section –

For purposes of this section – Term Definition Main cross references Acquisition price § 1.482-7(g)(5)(i). Adjusted acquisition price § 1.482-7(g)(5)(iii). Adjusted average market capitalization § 1.482-7(g)(6)(iv). Adjusted benefit shares § 1.482-7(i)(2)(ii)(A). Adjusted RPSM § 1.482-7(i)(6)(v)(B). Adjustment Year § 1.482-7(i)(6)(i). ADR § 1.482-7(i)(6)(iv). AERR § 1.482-7(i)(6)(iii). Applicable Method § 1.482-7(g)(2)(ix)(A). Average market capitalization § 1.482-7(g)(6)(iii). Benefits Benefits mean the sum of additional revenue generated, plus cost savings, minus any cost increases from exploiting cost shared intangibles. § 1.482-7(e)(1)(i). Capability variation § 1.482-7(f)(3). Change in participation under a CSA § 1.482-7(f). Consolidated group § 1.482-7(j)(2)(i). Contingent payments § 1.482-7(h)(2)(i)(B). Controlled participant Controlled participant means a controlled taxpayer, as defined under § 1.482-1(i)(5), that is a party to the contractual agreement that underlies the CSA, and that reasonably anticipates that it will derive benefits, as defined in paragraph (e)(1)(i) of this section, from exploiting one or more cost shared intangibles. § 1.482-7(a)(1). Controlled transfer of interests § 1.482-7(f)(2). Cost contribution § 1.482-7(d)(4). Cost shared intangible Cost shared intangible means any intangible, within the meaning of § 1.482-4(b), that is developed by the IDA, including any portion of such intangible that reflects a platform contribution. Therefore, an intangible developed by the IDA is a cost shared intangible even though the intangible was not always or was never a reasonably anticipated cost shared intangible. § 1.482-7(b). Cost sharing alternative § 1.482-7(g)(4)(i)(B). Cost sharing arrangement or CSA § 1.482-7(a), (b). Cost sharing transactions or CSTs § 1.482-7(a)(1), (b)(1)(i). Cross operating contributions A cross operating contribution is any resource or capability or right, other than a platform contribution, that a controlled participant has developed, maintained, or acquired prior to the CSA Start Date, or subsequent to the CSA start date by means other than operating cost contributions or cost contributions, that is reasonably anticipated to contribute to the CSA Activity within another controlled participant’s division. § 1.482-7(a)(3)(iii), (g)(2)(iv). CSA Activity CSA Activity is the activity of developing and exploiting cost shared intangibles. § 1.482-7(c)(2)(i). CSA Start Date The CSA Start Date is the earlier of the date of the CSA contract or the first occurrence of any IDC to which the CSA applies, in accordance with § 1.482-7(k)(1)(iii). § 1.482-7(i)(6)(iii)(B) and (k)(1)(ii) and (iii). CST Payments § 1.482-7(b)(1). Date of PCT § 1.482-7(b)(3). Determination Date § 1.482-7(i)(6)(i). Differential income stream § 1.482-7(g)(4)(vi)(F)(2). Division Division means the territory or other division that serves as the basis of the division of interests under the CSA in the cost shared intangibles pursuant to § 1.482-7(b)(4). See definitions of divisional profit or loss, operating contribution, and operating cost contribution. Divisional interest § 1.482-7(b)(1)(iii), (b)(4). Divisional profit or loss Divisional profit or loss means the operating profit or loss as separately earned by each controlled participant in its division from the CSA Activity, determined before any expense (including amortization) on account of cost contributions, operating cost contributions, routine platform and operating contributions, nonroutine contributions (including platform and operating contributions), and tax. § 1.482-7(g)(4)(iii). Fixed payments § 1.482-7(h)(2)(i)(A). Implied discount rate § 1.482-7(g)(2)(v)(B)(2). IDC share § 1.482-7(d)(4). Input parameters § 1.482-7(g)(2)(ix)(B). Intangible development activity or IDA § 1.482-7(d)(1). Intangible development costs or IDCs § 1.482-7(a)(1), (d)(1). Licensing alternative § 1.482-7(g)(4)(i)(C). Licensing payments Licensing payments means payments pursuant to the licensing obligations under the licensing alternative. § 1.482-7(g)(4)(iii). Make-or-sell rights § 1.482-7(c)(4), (g)(2)(iv). Market-based input parameter § 1.482-7(g)(2)(ix)(B). Market returns for routine contributions Market returns for routine contributions means returns determined by reference to the returns achieved by uncontrolled taxpayers engaged in activities similar to the relevant business activity in the controlled participant’s division, consistent with the methods described in §§ 1.482-3, 1.482-4, 1.482-5, or § 1.482-9(c) § 1.482-7(g)(4), (g)(7). Method payment form § 1.482-7(h)(3). Nonroutine contributions Nonroutine contributions means a controlled participant’s contributions to the relevant business activities that are not routine contributions. Nonroutine contributions ordinarily include both nonroutine platform contributions and nonroutine operating contributions used by controlled participants in the commercial exploitation of their interests in the cost shared intangibles (for example, marketing intangibles used by a controlled participant in its division to sell products that are based on the cost shared intangible). § 1.482-7(g). Nonroutine residual divisional profit or loss § 1.482-7(g)(7)(iii). Operating contributions An operating contribution is any resource or capability or right, other than a platform contribution, that a controlled participant has developed, maintained, or acquired prior to the CSA Start Date, or subsequent to the CSA Start Date by means other than operating cost contributions or cost contributions, that is reasonably anticipated to contribute to the CSA Activity within the controlled participant’s division. § 1.482-7(g)(2)(ii), (g)(4)(vi)(E), (g)(7)(iii)(A) and (C). Operating cost contributions Operating cost contributions means all costs in the ordinary course of business on or after the CSA Start Date that, based on analysis of the facts and circumstances, are directly identified with, or are reasonably allocable to, developing resources, capabilities, or rights (other than reasonably anticipated cost shared intangibles) that are reasonably anticipated to contribute to the CSA Activity within the controlled participant’s division. § 1.482-7(g)(2)(ii), (g)(4)(iii), (g)(7)(iii)(B). PCT Payee § 1.482-7(b)(1)(ii). PCT Payment § 1.482-7(b)(1)(ii). PCT Payor § 1.482-7(b)(1)(ii), (i)(6)(i). PCT Payor WACC § 1.482-7(i)(6)(iv)(D). Periodic adjustments § 1.482-7(i)(6)(i). Periodic Trigger § 1.482-7(i)(6)(i). Platform contribution transaction or PCT § 1.482-7(a)(2), (b)(1)(ii). Platform contributions § 1.482-7(c)(1). Post-tax income § 1.482-7(g)(2)(v)(B)(4), (g)(4)(i)(G). Pre-tax income § 1.482-7(g)(2)(v)(B)(4), (g)(4)(i)(G). Projected benefit shares § 1.482-7(i)(2)(ii)(A). PRRR § 1.482-7(i)(6)(ii). PVI § 1.482-7(i)(6)(iii)(C). PVTP § 1.482-7(i)(6)(iii)(B). Reasonably anticipated benefits A controlled participant’s reasonably anticipated benefits mean the benefits that reasonably may be anticipated to be derived from exploiting cost shared intangibles. For purposes of this definition, benefits mean the sum of additional revenue generated, plus cost savings, minus any cost increases from exploiting cost shared intangibles. § 1.482-7(e)(1). Reasonably anticipated benefits or RAB shares § 1.482-7(a)(1), (e)(1). Reasonably anticipated cost shared intangible § 1.482-7(d)(1)(ii). Relevant business activity § 1.482-7(g)(7)(i). Routine contributions Routine contributions means a controlled participant’s contributions to the relevant business activities that are of the same or similar kind to those made by uncontrolled taxpayers involved in similar business activities for which it is possible to identify market returns. Routine contributions ordinarily include contributions of tangible property, services and intangibles that are generally owned by uncontrolled ...

§ 1.482-7(i)(6)(vii) Example 3.

(i) USP, a U.S. corporation, and its wholly-owned foreign subsidiaries FS1, FS2, and FS3 enter into a CSA at the start of Year 1 to develop version 2.0 of a computer program. USP makes a platform contribution, version 1.0 of the program (upon which version 2.0 will be based), for which compensation is due from FS1, FS2, and FS3. None of the foreign subsidiaries makes any platform contributions. (ii) In Year 6, the Commissioner audits Years 3 through 5 of the CSA and considers whether any periodic adjustments should be made. At the time of the Determination Date, the Commissioner determines that the first Adjustment Year in which a Periodic Trigger occurred was Year 3, and further determines that none of the exceptions to periodic adjustments described in paragraph (i)(6)(vi) of this section applies. The Commissioner exercises his discretion under paragraph (i)(6)(i) of this section to make periodic adjustments using Year 3 as the Adjustment Year. Therefore, the arm’s length PCT Payments from FS1, FS2, and FS3 to USP shall be determined using the adjusted residual profit split method described in paragraphs (g)(7)(v)(B) and (i)(6)(v)(B) of this section. Periodic adjustments will be made for each year to the extent the PCT Payments actually made by FS1, FS2, and FS3 differ from the PCT Payment calculation under the adjusted residual profit split method. (iii) The periodic adjustments are calculated in a series of steps set out in paragraph (i)(6)(v)(A) of this section. First, a lump sum for the PCT Payments is determined using the adjusted residual profit split method. The following results are calculated (based on actual results for years for which actual results are available and projected results for all years thereafter) in order to apply the adjusted residual profit split method (it is determined that the cost shared intangibles will be exploited through Year 7, so the results reported in the following table are cumulative values through Year 7): Participant Divisional profits (cumulative PV through year 7 as of the CSA start date) Residual profits (cumulative PV through year 7 as of the CSA start date) FS1 $667 $314 FS2 271 159 FS3 592 295 Because only USP had nonroutine contributions, under paragraph (g)(7)(iii)(C) of this section, the entire nonroutine residual divisional profit constitutes the PCT Payment owed to USP. Therefore, the present values (as of the CSA Start Date) of the PCT Payments owed are as follows: PCT Payment owed from FS1 to USP: $314 million PCT Payment owed from FS2 to USP: $159 million PCT Payment owed from FS3 to USP: $295 million Pursuant to paragraph (i)(6)(v)(A) of this section, the steps in paragraphs (i)(6)(v)(A)(2) through (7) of this section are performed separately for the PCT Payments that are owed to USP by each of FS1, FS2, and FS3. (iv) First, the steps are performed with respect to FS1. In step two, the first step result ($314 million) is converted into a level royalty rate based on FS1’s reasonably anticipated divisional profits or losses through Year 7 (the PV of which is $667 million). Consequently, the step two result is a level royalty rate of 47.1% ($314/$667) of the divisional profits in Years 1 through 7. In step three, the Commissioner calculates the PCT Payments due through Year 3 (the Adjustment Year) by applying the step two royalty rate (47.1%) to FS1’s actual divisional profits for each year up to and including Year 3 and then determining the aggregate PV of these PCT Payments as of Year 3. In step four, the PCT Payments actually made by FS1 to USP through Year 3 are similarly converted to a PV as of Year 3 and subtracted from the amount determined in step three. That difference is the periodic adjustment in Year 3 with respect to the PCT Payments made for Years 1 through 3 from FS1 to USP. Under step five, the royalties due from FS1 to USP for Year 4 (the year after the Adjustment Year) through Year 6 (the year including the Determination Date) are determined. The periodic adjustment for each of these years is calculated as the product of the step two royalty rate and the divisional profit for that year, minus any actual PCT Payment made by FS1 to USP in that year. The periodic adjustment for each such year is a PCT Payment due in addition to the PCT Payment from FS1 to USP that was already made under the CSA. Under step six, the periodic adjustment for Year 7 (the only exploitation year after the year containing the Determination Date) will be determined by applying the step two royalty rate to FS1’s divisional profit for that year. This periodic adjustment for Year 7 is a PCT Payment payable from FS1 to USP and is in lieu of any PCT Payment from FS1 to USP otherwise due. (v) Next, the steps in paragraphs (i)(6)(v)(A)(2) through (7) of this section are performed with respect to FS2. In step two, the first step result ($159 million) is converted into a level royalty rate based on FS2’s reasonably anticipated divisional profits or losses through Year 7 (the PV of which is $271 million). Consequently, the step two result is a level royalty rate of 58.7% ($159/$271) of the divisional profits in Years 1 through 7. In step three, the Commissioner calculates the PCT Payments due through Year 3 (the Adjustment Year) by applying the step two royalty rate (58.7%) to FS2’s actual divisional profits for each year up to and including Year 3 and then determining the aggregate PV of these PCT Payments as of Year 3. In step four, the PCT Payments actually made by FS2 to USP through Year 3 are similarly converted to a PV as of Year 3 and subtracted from the amount determined in step three. That difference is the periodic adjustment in Year 3 with respect to the PCT Payments made for Years 1 through 3 from FS2 to USP. Under step five, the royalties due from FS2 to USP for Year 4 (the year after the Adjustment Year) through Year 6 (the year including the Determination Date) are determined. The periodic ...

§ 1.482-7(i)(6)(vii) Example 2.

The facts are the same as in paragraphs (i) through (iii) of Example 1. At the time of the Determination Date, it is determined that the first Adjustment Year in which a Periodic Trigger occurred was Year 6, when the AERR of FS was determined to be 2.73. Upon further investigation as to what may have caused the high return in FS’s market, the Commissioner learns that, in Years 4 through 6, USP’s leading competitors experienced severe, unforeseen disruptions in their supply chains resulting in a significant increase in USP’s and FS’s market share for cell phones. Further analysis determines that without this unforeseen occurrence the Periodic Trigger would not have occurred. Based on paragraph (i)(6)(vi)(A)(2) of this section, the Commissioner determines to his satisfaction that no adjustments are warranted ...

§ 1.482-7(i)(6)(vii) Example 1.

(i) For simplicity of calculation in this Example 1, all financial flows are assumed to occur at the beginning of the year. At the beginning of Year 1, USP, a publicly traded U.S. company, and FS, its wholly-owned foreign subsidiary, enter into a CSA to develop new technology for cell phones. USP has a platform contribution, the rights for an in-process technology that when developed will improve the clarity of calls, for which compensation is due from FS. FS has no platform contributions to the CSA, no operating contributions, and no operating cost contributions. USP and FS agree to fixed PCT payments of $40 million in Year 1 and $10 million per year for Years 2 through 10. At the beginning of Year 1, the weighted average cost of capital of the controlled group that includes USP and FS is 15%. In Year 9, the Commissioner audits Years 5 through 7 of the CSA and considers whether any periodic adjustments should be made. USP and FS have substantially complied with the documentation requirements of paragraph (k) of this section. (ii) FS experiences the results reported in the following table from its participation in the CSA through Year 7. In the table, all present values (PV) are reported as of the CSA Start Date, which is the same as the date of the PCT (and reflect a 15% discount rate as discussed in paragraph (iii) of this Example 1). Thus, in any year the present value of the cumulative investment is PVI and of the cumulative divisional profit or loss is PVTP. All amounts in this table and the tables that follow are reported in millions of dollars and cost contributions are referred to as “CCs†(for simplicity of calculation in this Example 1, all financial flows are assumed to occur at the beginning of the year). a b c d e f g h Year Sales Non CC costs CCs PCT payments Investment (d + e) Divisional profit or loss (b-c) AERR (PVTP/PVI) (g/f) 1 0 0 15 40 55 0 2 0 0 17 10 27 0 3 0 0 18 10 28 0 4 705 662 20 10 30 46 5 886 718 22 10 32 168 6 1,113 680 24 10 34 433 7 1,179 747 27 10 37 432 PV through Year 5 970 846 69 69 138 124 0.90 PV through Year 6 1,523 1,184 81 74 155 340 2.20 PV through Year 7 2,033 1,507 93 78 171 526 3.09 (iii) Because USP is publicly traded in the United States and is a member of the controlled group to which FS (the PCT Payor) belongs, for purposes of calculating the AERR for FS, the present values of its PVTP and PVI are determined using an ADR of 15%, the weighted average cost of capital of the controlled group. (It is assumed that no other rate was determined or established, under paragraph (i)(6)(iv)(B) of this section, to better reflect the relevant degree of risk.) At a 15% discount rate, the PVTP, calculated as of Year 1, and based on actual profits realized by FS through Year 7 from exploiting the new cell phone technology developed by the CSA, is $526 million. The PVI, based on FS’s cost contributions and its PCT Payments, is $171 million. The AERR for FS is equal to its PVTP divided by its PVI, $526 million/$171 million, or 3.09. There is a Periodic Trigger because FS’s AERR of 3.09 falls outside the PRRR of .67 to 1.5, the applicable PRRR for controlled participants complying with the documentation requirements of this section. (iv) At the time of the Determination Date, it is determined that the first Adjustment Year in which a Periodic Trigger occurred was Year 6, when the AERR of FS was determined to be 2.20. It is also determined that for Year 6 none of the exceptions to periodic adjustments described in paragraph (i)(6)(vi) of this section applies. The Commissioner exercises its discretion under paragraph (i)(6)(i) of this section to make periodic adjustments using Year 6 as the Adjustment Year. Therefore, the arm’s length PCT Payments from FS to USP shall be determined for each taxable year using the adjusted residual profit split method described in paragraphs (g)(7) and (i)(6)(v)(B) of this section. Periodic adjustments will be made for each year to the extent the PCT Payments actually made by FS differ from the PCT Payment calculation under the adjusted residual profit split method. (v) It is determined, as of the Determination Date, that the cost shared intangibles will be exploited through Year 10. FS’s return for routine contributions (determined by the Commissioner, based on the return for comparable functions undertaken by comparable uncontrolled companies, to be 8% of non-CC costs), and its actual and projected results, are described in the following table. a b c d e f g Year Sales Non-CC costs Divisional profit or loss (b-c) CCs Routing return Residual proift (d-e-f) 1 0 0 0 15 0 −15 2 0 0 0 17 0 −17 3 0 0 0 18 0 −18 4 705 662 43 20 53 −30 5 886 718 168 22 57 89 6 1,113 680 433 24 54 355 7 1,179 747 432 27 60 345 8 1,238 822 416 29 66 321 9 1,300 894 406 32 72 302 10 1,365 974 391 35 78 278 Cumulative PV through Year 10 as of CSA Start Date 3,312 2,385 927 124 191 612 (vi) The periodic adjustments are calculated in a series of steps set out in paragraph (i)(6)(v)(A) of this section. First, a lump sum for the PCT Payment is determined using the adjusted residual profit split method. Under the method, based on the considerations discussed in paragraph (g)(2)(v) of this section, the appropriate discount rate is 15% per year. The nonroutine residual divisional profit or loss described in paragraph (g)(7)(iii)(B) of this section is $612 million. Further, under paragraph (g)(7)(iii)(C) of this section, the entire nonroutine residual divisional profit constitutes the PCT Payment because only USP has nonroutine contributions. (vii) In step two, the first step result ($612 million) is converted into a level royalty ...

§ 1.482-7(i)(6)(vi)(B)(2) 5-year period.

In any year of the 5-year period beginning with the first taxable year in which there is substantial exploitation of cost shared intangibles resulting from the CSA, if the AERR falls below the lower bound of the PRRR ...

§ 1.482-7(i)(6)(vi)(B)(1) 10-year period.

In any year subsequent to the 10-year period beginning with the first taxable year in which there is substantial exploitation of cost shared intangibles resulting from the CSA, if the AERR determined is within the PRRR for each year of such 10-year period ...

§ 1.482-7(i)(6)(vi)(A)(4) Increased AERR does not cause Periodic Trigger –

(i) The Periodic Trigger would not have occurred had the divisional profits or losses of the PCT Payor used to calculate its PVTP included its reasonably anticipated divisional profits or losses after the Adjustment Year from the CSA Activity, including from its routine contributions, its operating cost contributions, and its nonroutine contributions to that activity, and had the cost contributions and PCT Payments of the PCT Payor used to calculate its PVI included its reasonably anticipated cost contributions and PCT Payments after the Adjustment Year. The reasonably anticipated amounts in the previous sentence are determined based on all information available as of the Determination Date. (ii) For purposes of this paragraph (i)(6)(vi)(A)(4), the controlled participants may, if they wish, assume that the average yearly divisional profits or losses for all taxable years prior to and including the Adjustment Year, in which there has been substantial exploitation of cost shared intangibles resulting from the CSA (exploitation years), will continue to be earned in each year over a period of years equal to 15 minus the number of exploitation years prior to and including the Determination Date ...

§ 1.482-7(i)(6)(vi)(A)(3) Reduced AERR does not cause Periodic Trigger.

The Periodic Trigger would not have occurred had the PCT Payor’s divisional profits or losses used to calculate its PVTP both taken into account expenses on account of operating cost contributions and routine platform contributions, and excluded those profits or losses attributable to the PCT Payor’s routine contributions to its exploitation of cost shared intangibles, nonroutine contributions to the CSA Activity, operating cost contributions, and routine platform contributions ...

§ 1.482-7(i)(6)(vi)(A)(2) Results not reasonably anticipated.

The differential between the AERR and the nearest bound of the PRRR is due to extraordinary events beyond the control of the controlled participants that could not reasonably have been anticipated as of the date of the Trigger PCT ...

§ 1.482-7(i)(6)(vi)(A)(1) Transactions involving the same platform contribution as in the Trigger PCT.

(i) The same platform contribution is furnished to an uncontrolled taxpayer under substantially the same circumstances as those of the relevant Trigger PCT and with a similar form of payment as the Trigger PCT; (ii) This transaction serves as the basis for the application of the comparable uncontrolled transaction method described in paragraph (g)(3) of this section, in the first year and all subsequent years in which substantial PCT Payments relating to the Trigger PCT were required to be paid; and (iii) The amount of those PCT Payments in that first year was arm’s length ...

§ 1.482-7(i)(6)(vi)(A) Controlled participants establish periodic adjustment not warranted.

No periodic adjustment will be made under paragraphs (i)(6)(i) and (v) of this section if the controlled participants establish to the satisfaction of the Commissioner that all the conditions described in one of paragraphs (i)(6)(vi)(A)(1) through (4) of this section apply with respect to the Trigger PCT ...

§ 1.482-7(i)(6)(v)(B) Adjusted RPSM as of Determination Date.

The Adjusted RPSM is the residual profit split method pursuant to paragraph (g)(7) of this section applied to determine the present value, as of the date of the Trigger PCT, of the PCT Payments under paragraph (g)(7)(iii)(C)(3) of this section, with the following modifications. (1) Actual results up through the Determination Date shall be substituted for what otherwise were the projected results over such period, as reasonably anticipated as of the date of the Trigger PCT. (2) Projected results for the balance of the CSA Activity after the Determination Date, as reasonably anticipated as of the Determination Date, shall be substituted for what otherwise were the projected results over such period, as reasonably anticipated as of the date of the Trigger PCT. (3) The requirement in paragraph (g)(7)(i) of this section, that at least two controlled participants make significant nonroutine contributions, does not apply ...

§ 1.482-7(i)(6)(v)(A) In general.

Periodic adjustments are determined by the following steps: (1) First, determine the present value, as of the date of the Trigger PCT, of the PCT Payments under paragraph (g)(7)(iii)(C)(3) of this section pursuant to the Adjusted RPSM as defined in paragraph (i)(6)(v)(B) of this section (first step result). (2) Second, convert the first step result into a stream of contingent payments on a base of reasonably anticipated divisional profits or losses over the entire duration of the CSA Activity, using a level royalty rate (second step rate). See paragraph (h)(2)(iv) of this section (Conversion from fixed to contingent form of payment). This conversion is made based on all information known as of the Determination Date. (3) Third, apply the second step rate to the actual divisional profit or loss for taxable years preceding and including the Adjustment Year to yield a stream of contingent payments for such years, and convert such stream to a present value as of the CSA Start Date under the principles of paragraph (g)(2)(v) of this section (third step result). For this purpose, the second step rate applied to a loss for a particular year will yield a negative contingent payment for that year. (4) Fourth, convert any actual PCT Payments up through the Adjustment Year to a present value as of the CSA Start Date under the principles of paragraph (g)(2)(v) of this section. Then subtract such amount from the third step result. Determine the nominal amount in the Adjustment Year that would have a present value as of the CSA Start Date equal to the present value determined in the previous sentence to determine the periodic adjustment in the Adjustment Year. (5) Fifth, apply the second step rate to the actual divisional profit or loss for each taxable year after the Adjustment Year up to and including the taxable year that includes the Determination Date to yield a stream of contingent payments for such years. For this purpose, the second step rate applied to a loss will yield a negative contingent payment for that year. Then subtract from each such payment any actual PCT Payment made for the same year to determine the periodic adjustment for such taxable year. (6) For each taxable year subsequent to the year that includes the Determination Date, the periodic adjustment for such taxable year (which is in lieu of any PCT Payment that would otherwise be payable for that year under the taxpayer’s position) equals the second step rate applied to the actual divisional profit or loss for that year. For this purpose, the second step rate applied to a loss for a particular year will yield a negative contingent payment for that year. (7) If the periodic adjustment for any taxable year is a positive amount, then it is an additional PCT Payment owed from the PCT Payor to the PCT Payee for such year. If the periodic adjustment for any taxable year is a negative amount, then it is an additional PCT Payment owed by the PCT Payee to the PCT Payor for such year ...

§ 1.482-7(i)(6)(v) Determination of periodic adjustments.

In the event of a Periodic Trigger, subject to paragraph (i)(6)(vi) of this section, the Commissioner may make periodic adjustments with respect to all PCT Payments between all PCT Payors and PCT Payees for the Adjustment Year and all subsequent years for the duration of the CSA Activity pursuant to the residual profit split method as provided in paragraph (g)(7) of this section, subject to the further modifications in this paragraph (i)(6)(v). A periodic adjustment may be made for a particular taxable year without regard to whether the taxable years of the Trigger PCT or other PCTs remain open for statute of limitation purposes ...

§ 1.482-7(i)(6)(iv)(E) Generally accepted accounting principles.

For purposes of paragraph (i)(6)(iv)(C) of this section, a financial statement prepared in accordance with a comprehensive body of generally accepted accounting principles other than United States generally accepted accounting principles is considered to be prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles provided that the amounts of debt, equity, and interest expense are reflected in any reconciliation between such other accounting principles and United States generally accepted accounting principles required to be incorporated into the financial statement by the securities laws governing companies whose stock is regularly traded on United States securities markets ...

§ 1.482-7(i)(6)(iv)(D) PCT Payor WACC.

The PCT Payor WACC is the WACC, as defined in paragraph (j)(1)(i) of this section, of the PCT Payor or the publicly traded company described in paragraph (i)(6)(iv)(C)(2)(ii) of this section, as the case may be ...

§ 1.482-7(i)(6)(iv)(C) Publicly traded.

A PCT Payor meets the conditions of this paragraph (i)(6)(iv)(C) if – (1) Stock of the PCT Payor is publicly traded; or (2) Stock of the PCT Payor is not publicly traded, provided the PCT Payor is included in a group of companies for which consolidated financial statements are prepared; and a publicly traded company in such group owns, directly or indirectly, stock in PCT Payor. Stock of a company is publicly traded within the meaning of this paragraph (i)(6)(iv)(C) if such stock is regularly traded on an established United States securities market and the company issues financial statements prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles for the taxable year ...

§ 1.482-7(i)(6)(iv)(B) Publicly traded companies.

If the PCT Payor meets the conditions of paragraph (i)(6)(iv)(C) of this section, the ADR is the PCT Payor WACC as of the date of the Trigger PCT. However, if the Commissioner determines, or the controlled participants establish to the satisfaction of the Commissioner, that a discount rate other than the PCT Payor WACC better reflects the degree of risk of the CSA Activity as of such date, the ADR is such other discount rate ...

§ 1.482-7(i)(6)(iv)(A) In general.

Except as provided in paragraph (i)(6)(iv)(B) of this section, the ADR is the discount rate pursuant to paragraph (g)(2)(v) of this section, subject to such adjustments as the Commissioner determines appropriate ...

§ 1.482-7(i)(6)(iii)(C) PVI.

The PVI is the present value, as of the CSA Start Date, of the PCT Payor’s investment associated with the CSA Activity, defined as the sum of its cost contributions and its PCT Payments, from the CSA Start Date through the end of the Adjustment Year. For purposes of computing the PVI, PCT Payments means all PCT Payments due from a PCT Payor before netting against PCT Payments due from other controlled participants pursuant to paragraph (j)(3)(ii) of this section ...

§ 1.482-7(i)(6)(iii)(B) PVTP.

The PVTP is the present value, as of the CSA Start Date, as defined in section (j)(1)(i) of this section, of the PCT Payor’s actually experienced divisional profits or losses from the CSA Start Date through the end of the Adjustment Year ...

§ 1.482-7(i)(6)(iii)(A) In general.

The AERR is the present value of total profits (PVTP) divided by the present value of investment (PVI). In computing PVTP and PVI, present values are computed using the applicable discount rate (ADR), and all information available as of the Determination Date is taken into account ...

§ 1.482-7(i)(6)(ii) PRRR.

Except as provided in the next sentence, the PRRR will consist of return ratios that are not less than .667 nor more than 1.5. Alternatively, if the controlled participants have not substantially complied with the documentation requirements referenced in paragraph (k) of this section, as modified, if applicable, by paragraphs (m)(2) and (3) of this section, the PRRR will consist of return ratios that are not less than .8 nor more than 1.25 ...

§ 1.482-7(i)(6)(i) In general.

Subject to the exceptions in paragraph (i)(6)(vi) of this section, the Commissioner may make periodic adjustments for an open taxable year (the Adjustment Year) and for all subsequent taxable years for the duration of the CSA Activity with respect to all PCT Payments, if the Commissioner determines that, for a particular PCT (the Trigger PCT), a particular controlled participant that owes or owed a PCT Payment relating to that PCT (such controlled participant being referred to as the PCT Payor for purposes of this paragraph (i)(6)) has realized an Actually Experienced Return Ratio (AERR) that is outside the Periodic Return Ratio Range (PRRR). The satisfaction of the condition stated in the preceding sentence is referred to as a Periodic Trigger. See paragraphs (i)(6)(ii) through (vi) of this section regarding the PRRR, the AERR, and periodic adjustments. In determining whether to make such adjustments, the Commissioner may consider whether the outcome as adjusted more reliably reflects an arm’s length result under all the relevant facts and circumstances, including any information known as of the Determination Date. The Determination Date is the date of the relevant determination by the Commissioner. The failure of the Commissioner to determine for an earlier taxable year that a PCT Payment was not arm’s length will not preclude the Commissioner from making a periodic adjustment for a subsequent year. A periodic adjustment under this paragraph (i)(6) may be made without regard to whether the taxable year of the Trigger PCT or any other PCT remains open for statute of limitations purposes or whether a periodic adjustment has previously been made with respect to any PCT Payment ...

§ 1.482-7(i)(5) Allocations when CSTs are consistently and materially disproportionate to RAB shares.

If a controlled participant bears IDC shares that are consistently and materially greater or lesser than its RAB share, then the Commissioner may conclude that the economic substance of the arrangement between the controlled participants is inconsistent with the terms of the CSA. In such a case, the Commissioner may disregard such terms and impute an agreement that is consistent with the controlled participants’ course of conduct, under which a controlled participant that bore a disproportionately greater IDC share received additional interests in the cost shared intangibles. See §§ 1.482-1(d)(3)(ii)(B) (Identifying contractual terms) and 1.482-4(f)(3)(ii) (Identification of owner). Such additional interests will consist of partial undivided interests in the other controlled participant’s interest in the cost shared intangible. Accordingly, that controlled participant must receive arm’s length consideration from any controlled participant whose IDC share is less than its RAB share over time, under the provisions of §§ 1.482-1 and 1.482-4 through 1.482-6 to provide compensation for the latter controlled participants’ use of such partial undivided interest ...

§ 1.482-7(i)(4) Allocations regarding changes in participation under a CSA.

The Commissioner may make allocations to adjust the results of any controlled transaction described in paragraph (f) of this section if the controlled participants do not reflect arm’s length results in relation to any such transaction ...

§ 1.482-7(i)(3) PCT allocations.

The Commissioner may make allocations to adjust the results of a PCT so that the results are consistent with an arm’s length result in accordance with the provisions of the applicable sections of the regulations under section 482, as determined pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of this section ...

§ 1.482-7(i)(2)(iii) Timing of CST allocations.

If the Commissioner makes an allocation to adjust the results of a CST, the allocation must be reflected for tax purposes in the year in which the IDCs were incurred. When a CST payment is owed by one controlled participant to another controlled participant, the Commissioner may make appropriate allocations to reflect an arm’s length rate of interest for the time value of money, consistent with the provisions of § 1.482-2(a) (Loans or advances) ...

§ 1.482-7(i)(2)(ii)(D) Example 7.

(i) The facts are the same as in Example 6, except that the actual sales results through Year 5 are as follows: Sales [In millions of dollars] Year USS FP 1 0 17 2 17 35 3 25 44 4 34 54 5 36 55 (ii) Based on the discrepancy between the projections and the actual results and on consideration of all the facts, the Commissioner determines that for the remaining years the following sales projections are more reliable than the original projections: Sales [In millions of dollars] Year USS FP 6 36 55 7 36 55 8 18 28 9 9 14 10 4.5 7 (iii) Combining the actual results through Year 5 with the projections for subsequent years, and using a discount rate of 10%, the present discounted value of sales is approximately $131.2 million for USS and $229.4 million for FP. This result implies that USS and FP obtain approximately 35.4% and 63.6%, respectively, of the anticipated benefits from the baldness treatment. These adjusted benefit shares diverge by greater than 20% from the benefit shares calculated based on the original sales projections, and the Commissioner determines that, based on the difference between adjusted and projected benefit shares, the original projections were unreliable. The Commissioner adjusts cost shares for each of the taxable years under examination to conform them to the recalculated shares of anticipated benefits ...

§ 1.482-7(i)(2)(ii)(D) Example 6.

(i)(A) Foreign Parent (FP) and U.S. Subsidiary (USS) enter into a CSA in 1996 to develop a new treatment for baldness. USS’s interest in any treatment developed is the right to produce and sell the treatment in the U.S. market while FP retains rights to produce and sell the treatment in the rest of the world. USS and FP measure their anticipated benefits from the CSA based on their respective projected future sales of the baldness treatment. The following sales projections are used: Sales [In millions of dollars] Year USS FP 1 5 10 2 20 20 3 30 30 4 40 40 5 40 40 6 40 40 7 40 40 8 20 20 9 10 10 10 5 5 (B) In Year 1, the first year of sales, USS is projected to have lower sales than FP due to lags in U.S. regulatory approval for the baldness treatment. In each subsequent year, USS and FP are projected to have equal sales. Sales are projected to build over the first three years of the period, level off for several years, and then decline over the final years of the period as new and improved baldness treatments reach the market. (ii) To account for USS’s lag in sales in the Year 1, the present discounted value of sales over the period is used as the basis for measuring benefits. Based on the risk associated with this venture, a discount rate of 10 percent is selected. The present discounted value of projected sales is determined to be approximately $154.4 million for USS and $158.9 million for FP. On this basis USS and FP are projected to obtain approximately 49.3% and 50.7% of the benefit, respectively, and the costs of developing the baldness treatment are shared accordingly. (iii)(A) In Year 6, the Commissioner examines the CSA. USS and FP have obtained the following sales results through Year 5: Sales [In millions of dollars] Year USS FP 1 0 17 2 17 35 3 25 35 4 38 41 5 39 41 (B) USS’s sales initially grew more slowly than projected while FP’s sales grew more quickly. In each of the first three years of the period, the share of total sales of at least one of the parties diverged by over 20% from its projected share of sales. However, by Year 5 both parties’ sales had leveled off at approximately their projected values. Taking into account this leveling off of sales and all the facts and circumstances, the Commissioner determines that it is appropriate to use the original projections for the remaining years of sales. Combining the actual results through Year 5 with the projections for subsequent years, and using a discount rate of 10%, the present discounted value of sales is approximately $141.6 million for USS and $187.3 million for FP. This result implies that USS and FP obtain approximately 43.1% and 56.9%, respectively, of the anticipated benefits from the baldness treatment. Because these adjusted benefit shares are within 20% of the benefit shares calculated based on the original sales projections, the Commissioner determines that, based on the difference between adjusted and projected benefit shares, the original projections were not unreliable. No adjustment is made based on the difference between adjusted and projected benefit shares ...

§ 1.482-7(i)(2)(ii)(D) Example 5.

The facts are the same as in Example 4. In addition, the Commissioner determines that FS2 has significant operating losses and has no earnings and profits, and that FS1 is profitable and has earnings and profits. Based on all the evidence, the Commissioner concludes that the controlled participants arranged that FS1 would bear a larger cost share than appropriate in order to reduce FS1’s earnings and profits and thereby reduce inclusions USP otherwise would be deemed to have on account of FS1 under subpart F. Pursuant to paragraph (i)(2)(ii)(B) of this section, the Commissioner may make an adjustment solely to the cost shares borne by FS1 and FS2 because FS2’s projection of future benefits was unreliable and the variation between adjusted and projected benefits had the effect of substantially reducing USP’s U.S. income tax liability (on account of FS1 subpart F income) ...

§ 1.482-7(i)(2)(ii)(D) Example 4.

Three controlled taxpayers, USP, FS1, and FS2 enter into a CSA. FS1 and FS2 are foreign. USP is a domestic corporation that controls all the stock of FS1 and FS2. The controlled participants project that they will share the total benefits of the cost shared intangibles in the following percentages: USP 50%; FS1 30%; and FS2 20%. Adjusted benefit shares are as follows: USP 45%; FS1 25%; and FS2 30%. In evaluating the reliability of the controlled participants’ projections, the Commissioner compares these adjusted benefit shares to the projected benefit shares. For this purpose, FS1 and FS2 are treated as a single controlled participant. The adjusted benefit share received by USP (45%) is within 20% of its projected benefit share (50%). In addition, the non-US controlled participant’s adjusted benefit share (55%) is also within 20% of their projected benefit share (50%). Therefore, the Commissioner concludes that the controlled participant’s projections of future benefits were reliable, despite the fact that FS2’s adjusted benefit share (30%) is not within 20% of its projected benefit share (20%) ...

§ 1.482-7(i)(2)(ii)(D) Example 3.

U.S. Parent (USP), a U.S. corporation, and its foreign subsidiary (FS) enter into a CSA in Year 1. They project that they will begin to receive benefits from cost shared intangibles in Years 4 through 6, and that USP will receive 60% of total benefits and FS 40% of total benefits. In Years 4 through 6, USP and FS actually receive 50% each of the total benefits. In evaluating the reliability of the controlled participants’ projections, the Commissioner compares the adjusted benefit shares to the projected benefit shares. Although USP’s adjusted benefit share (50%) is within 20% of its projected benefit share (60%), FS’s adjusted benefit share (50%) is not within 20% of its projected benefit share (40%). Based on this discrepancy, the Commissioner may conclude that the controlled participants’ projections were unreliable and may use adjusted benefit shares as the basis for an adjustment to the cost shares borne by USP and FS ...

§ 1.482-7(i)(2)(ii)(D) Example 2.

The facts are the same as in Example 1, except that in Year 3 USP and FS actually accounted for 35% and 65% of total sales, respectively. The divergence between USP’s projected and adjusted benefit shares is greater than 20% of USP’s projected benefit share and is not due to an extraordinary event beyond the control of the controlled participants. The Commissioner concludes that the projected benefit shares were unreliable, and uses adjusted benefit shares as the basis for an adjustment to the cost shares borne by USP and FS ...

§ 1.482-7(i)(2)(ii)(D) Example 1.

U.S. Parent (USP) and Foreign Subsidiary (FS) enter into a CSA to develop new food products, dividing costs on the basis of projected sales two years in the future. In Year 1, USP and FS project that their sales in Year 3 will be equal, and they divide costs accordingly. In Year 3, the Commissioner examines the controlled participants’ method for dividing costs. USP and FS actually accounted for 42% and 58% of total sales, respectively. The Commissioner agrees that sales two years in the future provide a reliable basis for estimating benefit shares. Because the differences between USP’s and FS’s adjusted and projected benefit shares are less than 20% of their projected benefit shares, the projection of future benefits for Year 3 is reliable ...

§ 1.482-7(i)(2)(ii)(C) Correlative adjustments to PCTs.

Correlative adjustments will be made to any PCT Payments of a fixed amount that were determined based on RAB shares that are subsequently adjusted on a finding that they were based on unreliable projections. No correlative adjustments will be made to contingent PCT Payments regardless of whether RAB shares were used as a parameter in the valuation of those payments ...

§ 1.482-7(i)(2)(ii)(B) Foreign-to-foreign adjustments.

Adjustments to IDC shares based on an unreliable projection also may be made among foreign controlled participants if the variation between actual and projected benefits has the effect of substantially reducing U.S. tax ...

§ 1.482-7(i)(2)(ii)(A) Unreliable projections.

A significant divergence between projected benefit shares and benefit shares adjusted to take into account any available actual benefits to date (adjusted benefit shares) may indicate that the projections were not reliable for purposes of estimating RAB shares. In such a case, the Commissioner may use adjusted benefit shares as the most reliable measure of RAB shares and adjust IDC shares accordingly. The projected benefit shares will not be considered unreliable, as applied in a given taxable year, based on a divergence from adjusted benefit shares for every controlled participant that is less than or equal to 20% of the participant’s projected benefits share. Further, the Commissioner will not make an allocation based on such divergence if the difference is due to an extraordinary event, beyond the control of the controlled participants, which could not reasonably have been anticipated at the time that costs were shared. The Commissioner generally may adjust projections of benefits used to calculate benefit shares in accordance with the provisions of § 1.482-1. In particular, if benefits are projected over a period of years, and the projections for initial years of the period prove to be unreliable, this may indicate that the projections for the remaining years of the period are also unreliable and thus should be adjusted. For purposes of this paragraph (i)(2)(ii)(A), all controlled participants that are not U.S. persons are treated as a single controlled participant. Therefore, an adjustment based on an unreliable projection of RAB shares will be made to the IDC shares of foreign controlled participants only if there is a matching adjustment to the IDC shares of controlled participants that are U.S. persons. Nothing in this paragraph (i)(2)(ii)(A) prevents the Commissioner from making an allocation if a taxpayer did not use the most reliable basis for measuring anticipated benefits. For example, if the taxpayer measures its anticipated benefits based on units sold, and the Commissioner determines that another basis is more reliable for measuring anticipated benefits, then the fact that actual units sold were within 20% of the projected unit sales will not preclude an allocation under this section ...

§ 1.482-7(i)(2)(i) In general.

The Commissioner may make allocations to adjust the results of a CST so that the results are consistent with an arm’s length result, including any allocations to make each controlled participant’s IDC share, as determined under paragraph (d)(4) of this section, equal to that participant’s RAB share, as determined under paragraph (e)(1) of this section. Such allocations may result from, for purposes of CST determinations, adjustments to – (A) Redetermine IDCs by adding any costs (or cost categories) that are directly identified with, or are reasonably allocable to, the IDA, or by removing any costs (or cost categories) that are not IDCs; (B) Reallocate costs between the IDA and other business activities; (C) Improve the reliability of the selection or application of the basis used for measuring benefits for purposes of estimating a controlled participant’s RAB share; (D) Improve the reliability of the projections used to estimate RAB shares, including adjustments described in paragraph (i)(2)(ii) of this section; and (E) Allocate among the controlled participants any unallocated interests in cost shared intangibles ...

§ 1.482-7(i)(1) In general.

The Commissioner may make allocations to adjust the results of a controlled transaction in connection with a CSA so that the results are consistent with an arm’s length result, in accordance with the provisions of this paragraph (i) ...

§ 1.482-7(h)(3) Coordination of best method rule and form of payment.

A method described in paragraph (g)(1) of this section evaluates the arm’s length amount charged in a PCT in terms of a form of payment (method payment form). For example, the method payment form for the acquisition price method described in paragraph (g)(5) of this section, and for the market capitalization method described in paragraph (g)(6) of this section, is fixed payment. Applications of the income method provide different method payment forms. See paragraphs (g)(4)(i)(E) and (iv) of this section. The method payment form may not necessarily correspond to the form of payment specified pursuant to paragraphs (h)(2)(iii) and (k)(2)(ii)(l) of this section (specified payment form). The determination under § 1.482-1(c) of the method that provides the most reliable measure of an arm’s length result is to be made without regard to whether the respective method payment forms under the competing methods correspond to the specified payment form. If the method payment form of the method determined under § 1.482-1(c) to provide the most reliable measure of an arm’s length result differs from the specified payment form, then the conversion from such method payment form to such specified payment form will be made to the satisfaction of the Commissioner ...

§ 1.482-7(h)(2)(iii)(C) Example 7.

(i) The facts are the same as in Example 6 except that the contingent payment term provides that, if the present value (as of the CSA Start Date) of A’s actual divisional operating profit or loss during the three-year period is either less or greater than the present value (as of the CSA Start Date) of the divisional operating profit or loss that the parties projected for A upon formation of the CSA for that period, then A will make a compensating adjustment to the third installment payment. The CSA does not specify the amount of (or a formula for) any such compensating adjustments. (ii) On audit, the Commissioner determines that the contingent payment term lacks economic substance under §§ 1.482-1(d)(3)(iii)(B) and 1.482-7(h)(2)(iii)(B). It lacks economic substance because the allocation of the risks between A and B was indeterminate as of the CSA Start Date due to the failure to specify the amount of (or a formula for) the compensating adjustments that must be made if a contingency occurs. The basis on which the compensating adjustments were to be determined was neither clear nor unambiguous. Even though the contingency was clearly defined in the CSA and the requirement of a compensating adjustment in the event of a contingency was clearly specified in the CSA, the parties had no agreement regarding the amount of such compensating adjustments. As a result, the computation used to determine the PCT Payments was indeterminate. The parties could choose to make a small positive compensating adjustment if the actual results turned out to be much greater than the projections, and could choose to make a significant negative compensating adjustment if the actual results turned out to be less than the projections. Such terms do not reflect a substantive upfront allocation of risk. In addition, the vagueness of the agreement makes it impossible to determine whether such contingent payment term warrants an additional arm’s length charge and, if so, how much. (iii) Accordingly, the Commissioner may disregard the contingent price term under §§ 1.482-1(d)(3)(ii)(B)(1) and 1.482-7(k)(1)(iv) and may impute other contractual terms in its place consistent with economic substance of the CSA. (iv) Conversion from fixed to contingent form of payment. With regard to a conversion of a fixed present value to a contingent form of payment, see paragraphs (g)(2)(v) (Discount rate) and (vi) (Financial projections) of this section ...

§ 1.482-7(h)(2)(iii)(C) Example 6.

(i) The facts are the same as in Example 3 except that A and B further agreed that, if the present value (as of the CSA Start Date) of A’s actual divisional operating profit or loss during the three-year period is either less or greater than the present value (as of the CSA Start Date) of the divisional operating profit or loss that the parties projected for A upon formation of the CSA for that period, then A may make a compensating adjustment to the third installment payment in the amount necessary to reduce (if actual divisional operating profit or loss is less than the projections) or increase (if actual divisional operating profit or loss exceeds the projections) the present value (as of the CSA Start Date) of the aggregate PCT Payments for those three years to the amount that would have been calculated if the actual results had been used for the calculation instead of the projected results. (ii) On audit, the Commissioner determines that the contingent payment term lacks economic substance under §§ 1.482-1(d)(3)(iii)(B) and 1.482-7(h)(2)(iii)(B). It lacks economic substance because the allocation of the risks between A and B was indeterminate as of the CSA Start Date due to the elective nature of the potential compensating adjustments. Specifically, the parties agreed upfront only that A might make compensating adjustments to the installment payments. By the terms of the agreement, A could decide whether to make such adjustments after the outcome of the risks was known or reasonably knowable. Even though the contingency and potential compensating adjustments were clearly defined in the CSA, no compensating adjustments were required by the CSA regardless of the occurrence or nonoccurrence of the contingency. As a result, the contingent payment terms did not clearly and unambiguously specify the events that give rise to an obligation to make PCT Payments, and, accordingly, the obligation to make compensating adjustments pursuant to the contingency was indeterminate. The contingent payment term allows the taxpayer to make adjustments that are favorable to its overall tax position in those years where the agreement allows it to make such adjustments, but decline to exercise its right to make any adjustment in those years in which such an adjustment would be unfavorable to its overall tax position. Such terms do not reflect a substantive upfront allocation of risk. In addition, the vagueness of the agreement makes it impossible to determine whether such contingent payment term warrants an additional arm’s length charge and, if so, how much. (iii) Accordingly, the Commissioner may disregard the contingent payment term under §§ 1.482-1(d)(3)(ii)(B)(1) and 1.482-7(k)(1)(iv) and may impute other contractual terms in its place consistent with the economic substance of the CSA ...

§ 1.482-7(h)(2)(iii)(C) Example 5.

(i) The facts are the same as in Example 4 except that the CSA states the amount that A will pay B for the contingent payment term is $X, an amount that is less than $Q, and A pays B $X in the first year of the CSA. (ii) On audit, based on all the facts and circumstances, the Commissioner determines that the installment PCT Payments agreed to be paid by A to B were consistent with an arm’s length charge as of the date of the PCT. The Commissioner further determines that the contingency was sufficiently specified such that its occurrence or nonoccurrence was unambiguous and determinable; that the projections were reliable; and that the contingency did, in fact, occur. However, the Commissioner also determines, based on all the facts and circumstances, that the additional PCT Payment of $X from A to B for the contingent payment term was not an arm’s length charge for the additional allocation of risk as of the CSA Start Date in connection with the contingent payment term. Accordingly, the Commissioner makes an adjustment to B’s results equal to the difference between $X and the median of the arm’s length range of charges for the contingent payment term ...

§ 1.482-7(h)(2)(iii)(C) Example 4.

(i) The facts are the same as in Example 3 except that the CSA contains an additional term with respect to the PCT Payments. Under this provision, A and B further agreed that, if the present value (as of the CSA Start Date) of A’s actual divisional operating profit or loss during the three-year period is less than the present value (as of the CSA Start Date) of the divisional operating profit or loss that the parties projected for A upon formation of the CSA for that period, then the third installment payment shall be subject to a compensating adjustment in the amount necessary to reduce the present value (as of the CSA Start Date) of the aggregate PCT Payments for those three years to the amount that would have been calculated if the actual results had been used for the calculation instead of the projected results. (ii) This provision further specifies that A will pay B an additional amount, $Q, in the first year of the CSA to compensate B for taking on additional downside risk through the contingent payment term described in paragraph (i) of this Example 4. (iii) During the first two years, A pays B installment payments as agreed, as well as the additional amount, $Q. In the third year, A and B determine that the present value (as of the CSA Start Date) of A’s actual divisional operating profit or loss during the three-year period is less than the present value (as of the CSA Start Date) of the divisional operating profit or loss that the parties projected for A upon formation of the CSA for that period. A reduces the PCT Payment to B in the third year in the amount necessary to reduce the present value (as of the CSA Start Date) of the aggregate PCT Payments for those three years to the amount that would have been calculated if the actual results had been used for the calculation instead of the projected results. (iv) On audit, based on all the facts and circumstances, the Commissioner determines that the installment PCT Payments agreed to be paid by A to B were consistent with an arm’s length charge as of the date of the PCT. The Commissioner further determines that the contingency was sufficiently specified such that its occurrence or nonoccurrence was unambiguous and determinable; that the projections were reliable; and that the contingency did, in fact, occur. Finally, the Commissioner determines, based on all the facts and circumstances, that $Q was within the arm’s length range for the additional allocation of risk to B. Accordingly, no adjustment is made with respect to the installment PCT Payments, or the additional PCT Payment for the contingent payment term, in any year ...

§ 1.482-7(h)(2)(iii)(C) Example 3.

(i) Controlled participants A and B enter into a CSA that provides for PCT Payments from A to B with respect to B’s platform contribution, Z, in the form of three annual installment payments due from A to B on the last day of each of the first three years of the CSA. (ii) On audit, based on all the facts and circumstances, the Commissioner determines that the installment PCT Payments are consistent with an arm’s length charge as of the date of the PCT. Accordingly, the Commissioner does not make an adjustment with respect to the PCT Payments in any year ...

§ 1.482-7(h)(2)(iii)(C) Example 2.

Taxpayer, an automobile manufacturer, is a controlled participant in a CSA that involves research and development to perfect certain manufacturing techniques necessary to the actual manufacture of a state-of-the-art, hybrid fuel injection system known as DRL337. The arrangement involves the platform contribution of a design patent covering DRL337. Pursuant to paragraph (h)(2)(iii)(B) of this section, the CSA provides for PCT Payments with respect to the platform contribution of the patent in the form of royalties contingent on sales of automobiles that contain the DRL337 system. However, Taxpayer’s system of book- and record-keeping does not enable Taxpayer to track which automobile sales involve automobiles that contain the DRL337 system. Because Taxpayer has not complied with paragraph (h)(2)(iii)(B) of this section, the Commissioner may impute payment terms that are consistent with economic substance and susceptible to verification by the Commissioner ...

§ 1.482-7(h)(2)(iii)(C) Example 1.

A CSA provides that PCT Payments with respect to a particular platform contribution shall be contingent payments equal to 15% of the revenues from sales of products that incorporate cost shared intangibles. The terms further permit (but do not require) the controlled participants to adjust such contingent payments in accordance with a formula set forth in the arrangement so that the 15% rate is subject to adjustment by the controlled participants at their discretion on an after-the-fact, uncompensated basis. The Commissioner may impute payment terms that are consistent with economic substance with respect to the platform contribution because the contingent payment provision does not specify the computation used to determine the PCT Payments ...

§ 1.482-7(h)(2)(iii)(B) Contingent payments.

In accordance with paragraph (k)(1)(iv)(A) of this section, a provision of a written contract described in paragraph (k)(1) of this section, or of the additional documentation described in paragraph (k)(2) of this section, that provides for payments for a PCT (or group of PCTs) to be contingent on the exploitation of cost shared intangibles will be respected as consistent with economic substance only if the allocation between the controlled participants of the risks attendant on such form of payment is determinable before the outcomes of such allocation that would have materially affected the PCT pricing are known or reasonably knowable. A contingent payment provision must clearly and unambiguously specify the basis on which the contingent payment obligations are to be determined. In particular, the contingent payment provision must clearly and unambiguously specify the events that give rise to an obligation to make PCT Payments, the royalty base (such as sales or revenues), and the computation used to determine the PCT Payments. The royalty base specified must be one that permits verification of its proper use by reference to books and records maintained by the controlled participants in the normal course of business (for example, books and records maintained for financial accounting or business management purposes) ...

§ 1.482-7(h)(2)(iii)(A) In general.

The form of payment selected (subject to the rules of this paragraph (h)) for any PCT, including, in the case of contingent payments, the contingent base and structure of the payments as set forth in paragraph (h)(2)(iii)(B) of this section, must be specified no later than the due date of the applicable tax return (including extensions) for the later of the taxable year of the PCT Payor or PCT Payee that includes the date of that PCT ...

§ 1.482-7(h)(2)(i) In general.

The consideration under a PCT for a platform contribution may take one or a combination of both of the following forms: (A) Payments of a fixed amount (fixed payments), either paid in a lump sum payment or in installment payments spread over a specified period, with interest calculated in accordance with § 1.482-2(a) (Loans or advances). (B) Payments contingent on the exploitation of cost shared intangibles by the PCT Payor (contingent payments). Accordingly, controlled participants have flexibility to adopt a form and period of payment, provided that such form and period of payment are consistent with an arm’s length charge as of the date of the PCT. See also paragraphs (h)(2)(iv) and (3) of this section ...

§ 1.482-7(h)(1) CST Payments.

CST Payments may not be paid in shares of stock in the payor (or stock in any member of the controlled group that includes the controlled participants) ...

§ 1.482-7(g)(8) Unspecified methods.

Methods not specified in paragraphs (g)(3) through (7) of this section may be used to evaluate whether the amount charged for a PCT is arm’s length. Any method used under this paragraph (g)(8) must be applied in accordance with the provisions of § 1.482-1 and of paragraph (g)(2) of this section. Consistent with the specified methods, an unspecified method should take into account the general principle that uncontrolled taxpayers evaluate the terms of a transaction by considering the realistic alternatives to that transaction, and only enter into a particular transaction if none of the alternatives is preferable to it. Therefore, in establishing whether a PCT achieved an arm’s length result, an unspecified method should provide information on the prices or profits that the controlled participant could have realized by choosing a realistic alternative to the CSA. See paragraph (k)(2)(ii)(J) of this section. As with any method, an unspecified method will not be applied unless it provides the most reliable measure of an arm’s length result under the principles of the best method rule. See § 1.482-1(c) (Best method rule). In accordance with § 1.482-1(d) (Comparability), to the extent that an unspecified method relies on internal data rather than uncontrolled comparables, its reliability will be reduced. Similarly, the reliability of a method will be affected by the reliability of the data and assumptions used to apply the method, including any projections used ...

§ 1.482-7(g)(7)(v) Example 2.

(i) For simplicity of calculation in this Example 2, all financial flows are assumed to occur at the beginning of each period. USP is a U.S. automobile manufacturing company that has completed significant research on the development of diesel-electric hybrid engines that, if they could be successfully manufactured, would result in providing a significant increased fuel economy for a wide variety of motor vehicles. Successful commercialization of the diesel-electric hybrid engine will require the development of a new class of advanced battery that will be light, relatively cheap to manufacture and yet capable of holding a substantial electric charge. FS, a foreign subsidiary of USP, has completed significant research on developing lithium-ion batteries that appear likely to have the requisite characteristics. At the beginning of Year 1, USP enters into a CSA with FS to further develop diesel-electric hybrid engines and lithium-ion battery technologies for eventual commercial exploitation. Under the CSA, USP will have the right to exploit the diesel-electric hybrid engine and lithium-ion battery technologies in the United States, while FS will have the right to exploit such technologies in the rest of the world. The partially developed diesel-electric hybrid engine and lithium-ion battery technologies owned by USP and FS, respectively, are reasonably anticipated to contribute to the development of commercially exploitable automobile engines and therefore the rights in both these technologies constitute platform contributions of USP and of FS for which compensation is due under PCTs. At the time of inception of the CSA, USP owns operating intangibles in the form of self-developed marketing intangibles which have significant value in the United States, but not in the rest of the world, and that are relevant to exploiting the cost shared intangibles. Similarly, FS owns self-developed marketing intangibles which have significant value in the rest of the world, but not in the United States, and that are relevant to exploiting the cost shared intangibles. Although the new class of diesel-electric hybrid engine using lithium-ion batteries is not yet ready for commercial exploitation, components based on this technology are beginning to be incorporated in current-generation gasoline-electric hybrid engines and the rights to make and sell such products are transferred from USP to FS and vice-versa in conjunction with the inception of the CSA, following the same territorial division as in the CSA. (ii) USP’s estimated RAB share is 66.7%. During Year 1, it is anticipated that sales in USP’s territory will be $1000X in Year 1. Sales in FS’s territory are anticipated to be $500X. Thereafter, as revenue from the use of components in gasoline-electric hybrids is supplemented by revenues from the production of complete diesel-electric hybrid engines using lithium-ion battery technology, anticipated sales in both territories will increase rapidly at a rate of 50% per annum through Year 4. Anticipated sales are then anticipated to increase at a rate of 40% per annum for another 4 years. Sales are then anticipated to increase at a rate of 30% per annum through Year 10. Thereafter, sales are anticipated to decrease at a rate of 5% per annum for the foreseeable future as new automotive drivetrain technologies displace diesel-electric hybrid engines and lithium-ion batteries. Total operating expenses attributable to product exploitation (including operating cost contributions) equal 40% of sales per year for both USP and FS. USP and FS estimate that the total market return on these routine contributions to the CSA will amount to 6% of these operating expenses. USP is expected to bear 2â„3 of the total cost contributions for the foreseeable future. Cost contributions are expected to total $375X in Year 1 (of which $250X are borne by USP) and increase at a rate of 25% per annum through Year 6. In Years 7 through 10, cost contributions are expected to increase 10% a year. Thereafter, cost contributions are expected to decrease by 5% a year for the foreseeable future. (iii) USP and FS determine the present value of the stream of FS’s reasonably anticipated residual divisional profit, which is the stream of FS’s reasonably anticipated divisional profit or loss, minus the market returns for routine contributions, minus operating cost contributions, minus cost contributions. USP and FS determine, based on the considerations discussed in paragraph (g)(2)(v) of this section, that the appropriate discount rate is 12% per year. Therefore, the present value of the nonroutine residual divisional profit in USP’s territory is $41,727X and in CFC’s territory is $20,864X. (iv) After analysis, USP and FS determine that, in the United States the relative value of the technologies contributed by USP and FS to the CSA and of the operating intangibles used by USP in the exploitation of the cost shared intangibles (reported as equaling 100 in total), equals: USP’s platform contribution (59.5); FS’s platform contribution (25.5); and USP’s operating intangibles (15). Consequently, the present value of the arm’s length amount of the PCT Payments that USP should pay to FS for FS’s platform contribution is $10,640X (.255 × $41,727X). Similarly, USP and FS determine that, in the rest of the world, the relative value of the technologies contributed by USP and FS to the CSA and of the operating intangibles used by FS in the exploitation of the cost shared intangibles can be divided as follows: USP’s platform contribution (63); FS’s platform contribution (27); and FS’s operating intangibles (10). Consequently, the present value of the arm’s length amount of the PCT Payments that FS should pay to USP for USP’s platform contribution is $13,144X (.63 × $20,864X). Therefore, FS is required to make a net payment to USP with a present value of $2,504X ($13,144X − 10,640X). (v) The calculations for this Example 2 are displayed in the following tables: Calculation of USP’s PCT Payment to FS Time Period (Y = Year) (TV = Terminal Value) Y1 Y2 Y3 Y4 Y5 Y6 Y7 Y8 Y9 Y10 TV Discount Period 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 9 [1] Sales 1000 1500 2250 3375 4725 6615 9261 12965 16855 21912 [2] Growth Rate 50% 50% 50% 40% 40% 40% 40% 30% 30% [3] Exploitation ...

§ 1.482-7(g)(7)(v) Example 1.

(i) For simplicity of calculation in this Example 1, all financial flows are assumed to occur at the beginning of each period. USP, a U.S. electronic data storage company, has partially developed technology for a type of extremely small compact storage devices (nanodisks) which are expected to provide a significant increase in data storage capacity in various types of portable devices such as cell phones, MP3 players, laptop computers and digital cameras. At the same time, USP’s wholly-owned subsidiary, FS, has developed significant marketing intangibles outside the United States in the form of customer lists, ongoing relations with various OEMs, and trademarks that are well recognized by consumers due to a long history of marketing successful data storage devices and other hardware used in various types of consumer electronics. At the beginning of Year 1, USP enters into a CSA with FS to develop nanodisk technologies for eventual commercial exploitation. Under the CSA, USP will have the right to exploit nanodisks in the United States, while FS will have the right to exploit nanodisks in the rest of the world. The partially developed nanodisk technologies owned by USP are reasonably anticipated to contribute to the development of commercially exploitable nanodisks and therefore the rights in the nanodisk technologies constitute platform contributions of USP for which compensation is due under PCTs. FS does not have any platform contributions for the CSA. Due to the fact that nanodisk technologies have yet to be incorporated into any commercially available product, neither USP nor FS transfers rights to make or sell current products in conjunction with the CSA. (ii) Because only in FS’s territory do both controlled participants make significant nonroutine contributions, USP and FS determine that they need to determine the relative value of their respective contributions to residual divisional profit or loss attributable to the CSA Activity only in FS’s territory. FS anticipates making no nanodisk sales during the first year of the CSA in its territory with revenues in Year 2 reaching $200 million. Revenues through Year 5 are reasonably anticipated to increase by 50% per year. The annual growth rate for revenues is then expected to decline to 30% per annum in Years 6 and 7, 20% per annum in Years 8 and 9 and 10% per annum in Year 10. Revenues are then expected to decline 10% in Year 11 and 5% per annum, thereafter. The routine costs (defined here as costs other than cost contributions, routine platform and operating contributions, and nonroutine contributions) that are allocable to this revenue in calculating FS’s divisional profit or loss, are anticipated to equal $40 million for the first year of the CSA and $130 for the second year and $200 and $250 million in Years 3 and 4. Total operating expenses attributable to product exploitation (including operating cost contributions) equal 52% of sales per year. FS undertakes routine distribution activities in its markets that constitute routine contributions to the relevant business activity of exploiting nanodisk technologies. USP and FS estimate that the total market return on these routine contributions will amount to 6% of the routine costs. FS expects its cost contributions to be $60 million in Year 1, rise to $100 million in Years 2 and 3, and then decline again to $60 million in Year 4. Thereafter, FS’s cost contributions are expected to equal 10% of revenues. (iii) USP and FS determine the present value of the stream of the reasonably anticipated residuals in FS’s territory over the duration of the CSA Activity of the divisional profit or loss (revenues minus routine costs), minus the market returns for routine contributions, the operating cost contributions, and the cost contributions. USP and FS determine, based on the considerations discussed in paragraph (g)(2)(v) of this section, that the appropriate discount rate is 17.5% per annum. Therefore, the present value of the nonroutine residual divisional profit is $1,395 million. (iv) After analysis, USP and FS determine that the relative value of the nanodisk technologies contributed by USP to CSA (giving effect only to its value in FS’s territory) is roughly 150% of the value of FS’s marketing intangibles (which only have value in FS’s territory). Consequently, 60% of the nonroutine residual divisional profit is attributable to USP’s platform contribution. Therefore, FS’s PCT Payments should have an expected present value equal to $837 million (.6 × $1,395 million). (v) The calculations for this Example 1 are displayed in the following table: Time Period (Y = Year) (TV = Terminal Value) Y1 Y2 Y3 Y4 Y5 Y6 Y7 Y8 Y9 Y10 Y11 TV Discount Period 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 10 [1] Sales 0 200 300 450 675 878 1141 1369 1643 1807 1626 [2] Growth Rate 50% 50% 50% 30% 30% 20% 20% 10% −10% [3] Exploitation Costs and Operating Cost Contributions (52% of Sales [1]) 40 130 200 250 351 456 593 712 854 940 846 [4] Return on [3] (6% of [3]) 2.4 8 12 15 21 27 36 43 51 56 51 [5] Cost Contributions (10% of Sales [1] after Year 5) 60 100 100 60 68 88 114 137 164 181 163 [6] Residual Profit = [1] minus {[3] + [4] + [5]} −102 −38 −12 125 235 306 398 477 573 630 567 2395 [7] Residual Profit [6] Discounted at 17.5% discount rate −102 −32 −9 77 124 137 151 154 158 148 113 477 [8] Sum of all amounts in [7] for all time periods = $1,395 million [9] Relative value in FS’s division of USP’s nanotechnology to FS’s marketing intangibles = 150% [10] Profit Split (USP) 60% = 1.5 × [11] [11] Profit Split (FS) 40% [12] FS’s PCT Payments [8] × [10] = $1,395 million × 60% = $837 million ...

§ 1.482-7(g)(7)(iv)(C)(D) Other factors affecting reliability.

Like the methods described in §§ 1.482-3 through 1.482-5 and § 1.482-9(c), the carveout on account of market returns for routine contributions relies exclusively on external market benchmarks. As indicated in § 1.482-1(c)(2)(i), as the degree of comparability between the controlled participants and uncontrolled transactions increases, the relative weight accorded the analysis under this method will increase. In addition, to the extent the allocation of nonroutine residual divisional profit or loss is not based on external market benchmarks, the reliability of the analysis will be decreased in relation to an analysis under a method that relies on market benchmarks. Finally, the reliability of the analysis under this method may be enhanced by the fact that all the controlled participants are evaluated under the residual profit split. However, the reliability of the results of an analysis based on information from all the controlled participants is affected by the reliability of the data and the assumptions pertaining to each controlled participant. Thus, if the data and assumptions are significantly more reliable with respect to one of the controlled participants than with respect to the others, a different method, focusing solely on the results of that party, may yield more reliable results ...

§ 1.482-7(g)(7)(iv)(C) Data and assumptions.

The reliability of the results derived from the residual profit split is affected by the quality of the data and assumptions used to apply this method. In particular, the following factors must be considered: (1) The reliability of the allocation of costs, income, and assets between the relevant business activity and the controlled participants’ other activities that will affect the reliability of the determination of the divisional profit or loss and its allocation among the controlled participants. See § 1.482-6(c)(2)(ii)(C)(1). (2) The degree of consistency between the controlled participants and uncontrolled taxpayers in accounting practices that materially affect the items that determine the amount and allocation of operating profit or loss affects the reliability of the result. See § 1.482-6(c)(2)(ii)(C)(2). (3) The reliability of the data used and the assumptions made in estimating the relative value of the nonroutine contributions by the controlled participants. In particular, if capitalized costs of development are used to estimate the relative value of nonroutine contributions, the reliability of the results is reduced relative to the reliability of other methods that do not require such an estimate. This is because, in any given case, the costs of developing a nonroutine contribution may not be related to its market value and because the calculation of the capitalized costs of development may require the allocation of indirect costs between the relevant business activity and the controlled participant’s other activities, which may affect the reliability of the analysis ...

§ 1.482-7(g)(7)(iv)(B) Comparability.

The derivation of the present value of nonroutine residual divisional profit or loss includes a carveout on account of market returns for routine contributions. Thus, the comparability considerations that are relevant for that purpose include those that are relevant for the methods that are used to determine market returns for the routine contributions ...

§ 1.482-7(g)(7)(iv)(A) In general.

Whether results derived from this method are the most reliable measure of the arm’s length result is determined using the factors described under the best method rule in § 1.482-1(c). Thus, comparability and quality of data, reliability of assumptions, and sensitivity of results to possible deficiencies in the data and assumptions, must be considered in determining whether this method provides the most reliable measure of an arm’s length result. The application of these factors to the residual profit split in the context of the relevant business activity of developing and exploiting cost shared intangibles is discussed in paragraphs (g)(7)(iv)(B) through (D) of this section ...

§ 1.482-7(g)(7)(iii)(C)(4) Routine platform and operating contributions.

For purposes of this paragraph (g)(7), any routine platform or operating contributions, the valuation and PCT Payments for which are determined and made independently of the residual profit split method, are treated similarly to cost contributions and operating cost contributions, respectively. Accordingly, wherever used in this paragraph (g)(7), the term “routine contributions†shall not include routine platform or operating contributions, and wherever the terms “cost contributions†and “operating cost contributions†appear in this paragraph (g)(7), they shall include net routine platform contributions and net routine operating contributions, respectively, as defined in paragraph (g)(4)(vii) of this section. However, treatment of net operating contributions as operating cost contributions shall be coordinated with the treatment of other routine contributions pursuant to paragraphs (g)(4)(iii)(B) and (7)(iii)(B) of this section so as to avoid duplicative market returns to such contributions ...

§ 1.482-7(g)(7)(iii)(C)(3) Determination of PCT Payments.

Any amount of the present value of a controlled participant’s nonroutine residual divisional profit or loss that is allocated to another controlled participant represents the present value of the PCT Payments due to that other controlled participant for its platform contributions to the relevant business activity in the relevant division. For purposes of paragraph (j)(3)(ii) of this section, the present value of a PCT Payor’s PCT Payments under this paragraph shall be deemed reduced to the extent of the present value of any PCT Payments owed to it from other controlled participants under this paragraph (g)(7). The resulting remainder may be converted to a fixed or contingent form of payment in accordance with paragraph (h) (Form of payment rules) of this section ...

§ 1.482-7(g)(7)(iii)(C)(2) Relative value determination.

The relative values of the controlled participants’ nonroutine contributions must be determined so as to reflect the most reliable measure of an arm’s length result. Relative values may be measured by external market benchmarks that reflect the fair market value of such nonroutine contributions. Alternatively, the relative value of nonroutine contributions may be estimated by the capitalized cost of developing the nonroutine contributions and updates, as appropriately grown or discounted so that all contributions may be valued on a comparable dollar basis as of the same date. If the nonroutine contributions by a controlled participant are also used in other business activities (such as the exploitation of make-or-sell rights described in paragraph (c)(4) of this section), an allocation of the value of the nonroutine contributions must be made on a reasonable basis among all the business activities in which they are used in proportion to the relative economic value that the relevant business activity and such other business activities are anticipated to derive over time as the result of such nonroutine contributions ...

§ 1.482-7(g)(7)(iii)(C)(1) In general.

The present value of nonroutine residual divisional profit or loss in each controlled participant’s division must be allocated among all of the controlled participants based upon the relative values, determined as of the date of the PCTs, of the PCT Payor’s as compared to the PCT Payee’s nonroutine contributions to the PCT Payor’s division. For this purpose, the PCT Payor’s nonroutine contribution consists of the sum of the PCT Payor’s nonroutine operating contributions and the PCT Payor’s RAB share of the PCT Payor’s nonroutine platform contributions. For this purpose, the PCT Payee’s nonroutine contribution consists of the PCT Payor’s RAB share of the PCT Payee’s nonroutine platform contributions ...

§ 1.482-7(g)(7)(iii)(B) Determine nonroutine residual divisional profit or loss.

The present value of each controlled participant’s nonroutine residual divisional profit or loss must be determined to reflect the most reliable measure of an arm’s length result. The present value of nonroutine residual divisional profit or loss equals the present value of the stream of the reasonably anticipated residuals over the duration of the CSA Activity of divisional profit or loss, minus market returns for routine contributions, minus operating cost contributions, minus cost contributions, using a discount rate appropriate to such residuals in accordance with paragraph (g)(2)(v) of this section. As used in this paragraph (g)(7), the phrase “market returns for routine contributions†includes market returns for operating cost contributions and excludes market returns for cost contributions ...

§ 1.482-7(g)(7)(iii)(A) In general.

Under the residual profit split method, the present value of each controlled participant’s residual divisional profit or loss attributable to nonroutine contributions (nonroutine residual divisional profit or loss) is allocated between the controlled participants that each furnish significant nonroutine contributions (including platform or operating contributions) to the relevant business activity in that division ...

§ 1.482-7(g)(7)(ii) Appropriate share of profits and losses.

The relative value of each controlled participant’s contribution to the success of the relevant business activity must be determined in a manner that reflects the functions performed, risks assumed, and resources employed by each participant in the relevant business activity, consistent with the best method analysis described in § 1.482-1(c) and (d). Such an allocation is intended to correspond to the division of profit or loss that would result from an arrangement between uncontrolled taxpayers, each performing functions similar to those of the various controlled participants engaged in the relevant business activity. The profit allocated to any particular controlled participant is not necessarily limited to the total operating profit of the group from the relevant business activity. For example, in a given year, one controlled participant may earn a profit while another controlled participant incurs a loss. In addition, it may not be assumed that the combined operating profit or loss from the relevant business activity should be shared equally, or in any other arbitrary proportion ...

§ 1.482-7(g)(7)(i) In general.

The residual profit split method evaluates whether the allocation of combined operating profit or loss attributable to one or more platform contributions subject to a PCT is arm’s length by reference to the relative value of each controlled participant’s contribution to that combined operating profit or loss. The combined operating profit or loss must be derived from the most narrowly identifiable business activity (relevant business activity) of the controlled participants for which data are available that include the CSA Activity. The residual profit split method may not be used where only one controlled participant makes significant nonroutine contributions (including platform or operating contributions) to the CSA Activity. The provisions of § 1.482-6 shall apply to CSAs only to the extent provided and as modified in this paragraph (g)(7). Any other application to a CSA of a residual profit method not described in paragraphs (g)(7)(ii) and (iii) of this section will constitute an unspecified method for purposes of sections 482 and 6662(e) and the regulations under those sections ...

§ 1.482-7(g)(6)(vi) Example 3.

Reduced reliability. The facts are the same as in Example 1 except that USP also has significant nonroutine assets that will be used solely in a nascent business division that is unrelated to the subject of the CSA and that cannot themselves be reliably valued. Those nonroutine contributions are not platform contributions and accordingly are not required to be covered by a PCT. The reliability of using the market capitalization method to determine the value of USP’s platform contributions to the CSA is significantly reduced in this case because that method would require adjusting USP’s average market capitalization to account for the significant nonroutine contributions that are not required to be covered by a PCT ...

§ 1.482-7(g)(6)(vi) Example 2.

Aggregation with make-or-sell rights. (i) The facts are the same as in Example 1, except that on Date 1 USP also has existing software ready for the market. USP separately enters into a license agreement with FS for make-or-sell rights for all existing software outside the United States. No marketing has occurred, and USP has no marketing intangibles. This license of current make-or-sell rights is a transaction governed by § 1.482-4. However, after analysis, it is determined that the arm’s length PCT Payments and the arm’s length payments for the make-or-sell license may be most reliably determined in the aggregate using the market capitalization method, under principles described in paragraph (g)(2)(iv) of this section, and it is further determined that those principles are most reliably implemented by computing the aggregate arm’s length charge as the product of the aggregate value of the existing and in-process software and FS’s RAB share on Date 1. (ii) Applying the market capitalization method, the aggregate value of USP’s platform contributions and the make-or-sell rights in its existing software is $250 million ($255 million average market capitalization of USP less $5 million of tangible property and other assets). The total arm’s length value of the PCT Payments and licensing payments FS must make to USP for the platform contributions and current make-or-sell rights, before any adjustment on account of tax liability, if any, is $75 million, which is the product of $250 million (the value of the platform contributions and the make-or-sell rights) and 30% (FS’s RAB share on Date 1) ...

§ 1.482-7(g)(6)(vi) Example 1.

(i) USP, a publicly traded U.S. company, and its newly incorporated wholly-owned foreign subsidiary (FS) enter into a CSA on Date 1 to develop software. At that time USP has in-process software but has no software ready for the market. Under the CSA, USP and FS will have the exclusive rights to exploit the software developed under the CSA in the United States and the rest of the world, respectively. On Date 1, USP’s RAB share is 70% and FS’s RAB share is 30%. USP’s assembled team of researchers and its in-process software are reasonably anticipated to contribute to the development of the software under the CSA. Therefore, the rights in the research team and in-process software are platform contributions for which compensation is due from FS. Further, these rights are not reasonably anticipated to contribute to any business activity other than the CSA Activity. (ii) On Date 1, USP had an average market capitalization of $205 million, tangible property and other assets that can be reliably valued worth $5 million, and no liabilities. Aside from those assets, USP had no assets other than its research team and in-process software. Applying the market capitalization method, the value of USP’s platform contributions is $200 million ($205 million average market capitalization of USP less $5 million of tangible property and other assets). The arm’s length value of the PCT Payments FS must make to USP for the platform contributions, before any adjustment on account of tax liability as described in paragraph (g)(2)(ii) of this section, is $60 million, which is the product of $200 million (the value of the platform contributions) and 30% (FS’s RAB share on Date 1) ...

§ 1.482-7(g)(6)(v) Best method analysis considerations.

The comparability and reliability considerations stated in § 1.482-4(c)(2) apply. Consistent with those considerations, the reliability of applying the comparable uncontrolled transaction method using the adjusted market capitalization of a company as a measure of the arm’s length charge for the PCT Payment normally is reduced if – (A) A substantial portion of the PCT Payee’s nonroutine contributions to its business activities is not required to be covered by a PCT or group of PCTs, and that portion of the nonroutine contributions cannot reliably be valued; (B) A substantial portion of the PCT Payee’s assets consists of tangible property that cannot reliably be valued; or (C) Facts and circumstances demonstrate the likelihood of a material divergence between the average market capitalization of the PCT Payee and the value of its resources, capabilities, and rights for which reliable adjustments cannot be made ...

§ 1.482-7(g)(6)(iv) Adjusted average market capitalization.

The adjusted average market capitalization is the average market capitalization of the PCT Payee increased by the value of the PCT Payee’s liabilities on the date of the PCT and decreased by the value on such date of the PCT Payee’s tangible property and of any other resources, capabilities, or rights of the PCT Payee not covered by a PCT or group of PCTs ...

§ 1.482-7(g)(6)(iii) Average market capitalization.

The average market capitalization is the average of the daily market capitalizations of the PCT Payee over a period of time beginning 60 days before the date of the PCT and ending on the date of the PCT. The daily market capitalization of the PCT Payee is calculated on each day its stock is actively traded as the total number of shares outstanding multiplied by the adjusted closing price of the stock on that day. The adjusted closing price is the daily closing price of the stock, after adjustments for stock-based transactions (dividends and stock splits) and other pending corporate (combination and spin-off) restructuring transactions for which reliable arm’s length adjustments can be made ...

§ 1.482-7(g)(6)(ii) Determination of arm’s length charge.

Under the market capitalization method, the arm’s length charge for a PCT or group of PCTs covering resources, capabilities, and rights of the PCT Payee is equal to the adjusted average market capitalization, as divided among the controlled participants according to their respective RAB shares ...

§ 1.482-7(g)(6)(i) In general.

The market capitalization method applies the comparable uncontrolled transaction method of § 1.482-4(c), or the comparable uncontrolled services price method described in § 1.482-9(c), to evaluate whether the amount charged in a PCT, or group of PCTs, is arm’s length by reference to the average market capitalization of a controlled participant (PCT Payee) whose stock is regularly traded on an established securities market. The market capitalization method is ordinarily used where substantially all of the PCT Payee’s nonroutine contributions to the PCT Payee’s business are covered by a PCT or group of PCTs ...

§ 1.482-7(g)(5)(v) Example.

USP, a U.S. corporation, and its newly incorporated, wholly-owned foreign subsidiary (FS) enter into a CSA at the start of Year 1 to develop Group Z products. Under the CSA, USP and FS will have the exclusive rights to exploit the Group Z products in the U.S. and the rest of the world, respectively. At the start of Year 2, USP acquires Company X for cash consideration worth $110 million. At this time USP’s RAB share is 60%, and FS’s RAB share is 40% and is not reasonably anticipated to change as a result of this acquisition. Company X joins in the filing of a U.S. consolidated income tax return with USP. Under paragraph (j)(2)(i) of this section, Company X and USP are treated as one taxpayer for purposes of this section. Accordingly, the rights in any of Company X’s resources and capabilities that are reasonably anticipated to contribute to the development activities of the CSA will be considered platform contributions furnished by USP. Company X’s resources and capabilities consist of its workforce, certain technology intangibles, $15 million of tangible property and other assets and $5 million in liabilities. The technology intangibles, as well as Company X’s workforce, are reasonably anticipated to contribute to the development of the Group Z products under the CSA and, therefore, the rights in the technology intangibles and the workforce are platform contributions for which FS must make a PCT Payment to USP. None of Company X’s existing intangible assets or any of its workforce are anticipated to contribute to activities outside the CSA. For purposes of this example, it is assumed that no additional adjustment on account of tax liabilities is needed. Applying the acquisition price method, the value of USP’s platform contributions is the adjusted acquisition price of $100 million ($110 million acquisition price plus $5 million liabilities less $15 million tangible property and other assets). FS must make a PCT Payment to USP for these platform contributions with a reasonably anticipated present value of $40 million, which is the product of $100 million (the value of the platform contributions) and 40% (FS’s RAB share) ...

§ 1.482-7(g)(5)(iv) Best method analysis considerations.

The comparability and reliability considerations stated in § 1.482-4(c)(2) apply. Consistent with those considerations, the reliability of applying the acquisition price method as a measure of the arm’s length charge for the PCT Payment normally is reduced if – (A) A substantial portion of the target’s nonroutine contributions to the PCT Payee’s business activities is not required to be covered by a PCT or group of PCTs, and that portion of the nonroutine contributions cannot reliably be valued; (B) A substantial portion of the target’s assets consists of tangible property that cannot reliably be valued; or (C) The date on which the target is acquired and the date of the PCT are not contemporaneous ...

§ 1.482-7(g)(5)(iii) Adjusted acquisition price.

The adjusted acquisition price is the acquisition price of the target increased by the value of the target’s liabilities on the date of the acquisition, other than liabilities not assumed in the case of an asset purchase, and decreased by the value of the target’s tangible property on that date and by the value on that date of any other resources, capabilities, and rights not covered by a PCT or group of PCTs ...

§ 1.482-7(g)(5)(ii) Determination of arm’s length charge.

Under this method, the arm’s length charge for a PCT or group of PCTs covering resources, capabilities, and rights of the target is equal to the adjusted acquisition price, as divided among the controlled participants according to their respective RAB shares ...

§ 1.482-7(g)(5)(i) In general.

The acquisition price method applies the comparable uncontrolled transaction method of § 1.482-4(c), or the comparable uncontrolled services price method described in § 1.482-9(c), to evaluate whether the amount charged in a PCT, or group of PCTs, is arm’s length by reference to the amount charged (the acquisition price) for the stock or asset purchase of an entire organization or portion thereof (the target) in an uncontrolled transaction. The acquisition price method is ordinarily used where substantially all the target’s nonroutine contributions, as such term is defined in paragraph (j)(1)(i) of this section, made to the PCT Payee’s business activities are covered by a PCT or group of PCTs ...

§ 1.482-7(g)(4)(viii) Example 9.

The facts are the same as in Example 1, except that additional data on discount rates are available that were not available in Example 1. The Commissioner determines the arm’s length charge for the PCT Payment by discounting at an appropriate rate the differential income stream associated with the rights contributed by USP in the PCT (that is, the stream of income in column (11) of Example 1). Based on an analysis of a set of public companies whose resources, capabilities, and rights consist primarily of resources, capabilities, and rights similar to those contributed by USP in the PCT, the Commissioner determines that 15% to 17% is an appropriate range of discount rates to use to assess the value of the differential income stream associated with the rights contributed by USP in the PCT. The Commissioner determines that applying a discount rate of 17% to the differential income stream associated with the rights contributed by USP in the PCT yields a present value of $446 million, while applying a discount rate of 15% to the differential income stream associated with the rights contributed by USP in the PCT yields a present value of $510 million. Because the taxpayer’s result, $464 million, is within the interquartile range determined by the Commissioner, no adjustments are warranted. See paragraphs (g)(2)(v)(B)(2), (g)(4)(v), and (g)(4)(vi)(F)(1) of this section ...

§ 1.482-7(g)(4)(viii) Example 8.

(i) The facts are the same as in Example 1, except that the taxpayer determines that the appropriate discount rate for the cost sharing alternative is 20%. In addition, the taxpayer determines that the appropriate discount rate for the licensing alternative is 10%. Accordingly, the taxpayer determines that the appropriate present value of the PCT Payment is $146 million. (ii) Based on the best method analysis described in Example 2, the Commissioner determines that the taxpayer’s calculation of the present value of the PCT Payments is outside of the interquartile range (as shown in the sixth column of Example 2), and thus warrants an adjustment. Furthermore, in evaluating the taxpayer’s analysis, the Commissioner undertakes an analysis based on the difference in the financial projections between the cost sharing and licensing alternatives (as shown in column 11 of Example 1). This column shows the anticipated differential income stream of additional positive or negative income for FS over the duration of the CSA Activity that would result from undertaking the cost sharing alternative (before any PCT Payments) rather than the licensing alternative. This anticipated differential income stream thus reflects the anticipated incremental undiscounted profits to FS from the incremental activity of undertaking the risk of developing the cost shared intangibles and enjoying the value of its divisional interests. Taxpayer’s analysis logically implies that the present value of this stream must be $146 million, since only then would FS have the same anticipated value in both the cost sharing and licensing alternatives. A present value of $146 million implies that the discount rate applicable to this stream is 34.4%. Based on a reliable calculation of discount rates applicable to the anticipated income streams of uncontrolled companies whose resources, capabilities, and rights consist primarily of software applications intangibles and research and development teams similar to USP’s platform contributions to the CSA, and which income streams, accordingly, may be reasonably anticipated to reflect a similar risk profile to the differential income stream, the Commissioner concludes that an appropriate discount rate for the anticipated income stream associated with USP’s platform contributions (that is, the additional positive or negative income over the duration of the CSA Activity that would result, before PCT Payments, from switching from the licensing alternative to the cost sharing alternative) is 16%, which is significantly less than 34.4%. This conclusion further suggests that Taxpayer’s analysis is unreliable. See paragraphs (g)(2)(v)(B)(2) and (g)(4)(vi)(F)(1) and (2) of this section. (iii) The Commissioner makes an adjustment of $296 million, so that the present value of the PCT Payments is $442 million (the median results as shown in column 6 of Example 2) ...

§ 1.482-7(g)(4)(viii) Example 7.

Application of income method with a terminal value calculation. (i) For simplicity of calculation in this Example 7, all financial flows are assumed to occur at the beginning of each period. USP’s research and development team, Q, has developed a technology, Z, for which it has several applications on the market now and several planned for release at future dates. In Year 1, USP, enters into a CSA with its wholly-owned subsidiary, FS, to develop future applications of Z. Under the CSA, USP will have the rights to further develop and exploit the future applications of Z in the United States, and FS will have the rights to further develop and exploit the future applications of Z in the rest of the world. Both Q and the rights to further develop and exploit future applications of Z are reasonably anticipated to contribute to the development of future applications of Z. Therefore, both Q and the rights to further develop and exploit the future applications of Z are platform contributions for which compensation is due from FS to USP as part of a PCT. USP does not transfer the current exploitation rights for current applications of Z to FS. FS will not perform any research or development activities on Z and does not furnish any platform contributions to the CSA, nor does it control any operating intangibles at the inception of the CSA that would be relevant to the exploitation of either current or future applications of Z. (ii) At the outset of the CSA, FS undertakes an analysis of the PCTs involving Q and the rights with respect to Z in order to determine the arm’s length PCT Payments owing from FS to USP under the CSA. In that evaluation, FS concludes that the cost sharing alternative represents a riskier alternative for FS than the licensing alternative. FS further concludes that the appropriate discount rate to apply in assessing the licensing alternative, based on discount rates of comparable uncontrolled companies undertaking comparable licensing transactions, would be 13% per annum, whereas the appropriate discount rate to apply in assessing the cost sharing alternative would be 14% per annum. FS undertakes financial projections and anticipates making $100 million in sales during the first two years of the CSA in its territory with sales in Years 3 through 8 increasing to $200 million, $400 million, $600 million, $650 million, $700 million, and $750 million, respectively. After Year 8, FS expects its sales of all products based upon exploitation of Z in the rest of the world to grow at 3% per annum for the future. FS and USP do not anticipate cessation of the CSA Activity with respect to Z at any determinable date. FS anticipates that its manufacturing and distribution costs for exploiting Z (including its operating cost contributions), will equal 60% of gross sales of Z from Year 1 onwards, and anticipates its cost contributions will equal $25 million per annum for Years 1 and 2, $50 million per annum for Years 3 and 4, and 10% of gross sales per annum thereafter. (iii) Based on this analysis, FS determines that the arm’s length royalty rate that USP would have charged an uncontrolled licensee for a license of future applications of Z if USP had further developed future applications of Z on its own is 30% of the sales price of the Z-based product, as determined under the comparable uncontrolled transaction method in § 1.482-4(c). In light of the expected sales growth and anticipation that the CSA Activity will not cease as of any determinable date, FS’s determination includes a terminal value calculation. FS further determines that under the cost sharing alternative, the present value of FS’s divisional profits, reduced by the present values of the anticipated operating cost contributions and cost contributions, would be $1,361 million. Under the licensing alternative, the present value of the operating divisional profits and losses, reduced by the operating cost contributions, would be $2,113 million, and the present value of the licensing payments would be $1,585 million. Therefore, the total value of the licensing alternative would be $528 million. In order for the present value of the cost sharing alternative to equal the present value of the licensing alternative, the present value of the PCT Payments must equal $833 million. Accordingly, FS pays USP a lump sum PCT Payment of $833 million in Year 1 for USP’s platform contributions of Z and Q. (iv) The Commissioner undertakes an audit of the PCTs and concludes, based on his own analysis, that this lump sum PCT Payment is within the interquartile range of arm’s length results for these platform contributions. The calculations made by FS in determining the PCT Payment in this Example 7 are set forth in the following tables: Cost Sharing Alternative Time Period (Y = Year, TV = Terminal Value) Y1 Y2 Y3 Y4 Y5 Y6 Y7 Y8 TV Discount Period 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 7 Items of Income/Expense at Beginning of Year: 1 Sales 100 100 200 400 600 650 700 750 (3% annual growth in each year from previous year). 2 Routine Cost and Operating Cost Contributions (60% of sales amount in row 1 of relevant year) 60 60 120 240 360 390 420 450 (60% of annual sales in row 1 for each year). 3 Cost Contributions (10% of sales amount in row 1 for relevant year after Year 5) 25 25 50 50 60 65 70 75 (10% of annual sales in row 1 for each year). 4 Profit = amount in row 1 reduced by amounts in rows 2 and 3 15 15 30 110 180 195 210 225 (row 1 minus rows 2 and 3 for each year). 5 PV (using 14% discount rate) 15 13.2 23.1 74.2 107 101 95.7 89.9 842. 6 TOTAL PV of Cost Sharing Alternative = Sum of all PV amounts in Row 5 for all Time Periods = $1,361 million. Licensing Alternative Time Period (Y = Year, TV = Terminal Value) Y1 Y2 ...

§ 1.482-7(g)(4)(viii) Example 6.

Pre-tax PCT Payment derived from pre-tax information. (i) The facts are the same as in paragraphs (i) and (ii) of Example 4. In addition, under paragraph (g)(4) of this section, the arm’s length charge for a PCT Payment will be an amount such that a controlled participant’s present value, as of the date of the PCT of its cost sharing alternative of entering into a CSA equals the present value of its best realistic alternative. This requires that “L,†the present value of the post-tax income under the CSA, equals the present value of the post-tax income under the licensing alternative, or $196. (ii) Under the specific facts and assumptions of this Example 6 (see paragraph (g)(4)(i)(G) of this section), and using the same (post-tax) discount rates as in Example 4, the present value of pre-tax income under the licensing alternative (that is, the operating income) is $261, and the present value of pre-tax income under the cost sharing alternative (excluding PCT Payments) is $749. Accordingly, FS determines that its PCT Payments for Z should have a present value equal to the difference between the two, or $488 (D). Such PCT Payments for Z result in a present value of post-tax income under the cost sharing alternative of $196 (L), which is equal to the present value of post-tax income under the licensing alternative. (iii) The Commissioner undertakes an audit of the PCT Payments for Z made by FS to USP in Years 1 through 3. The Commissioner concludes that the PCT Payments for Z are arm’s length in accordance with this paragraph (g)(4) ...

§ 1.482-7(g)(4)(viii) Example 5.

Pre-tax PCT Payment derived from post-tax information. (i) The facts are the same as in paragraphs (i) and (ii) of Example 4. In addition, under this paragraph (g)(4), the arm’s length charge for a PCT Payment will be an amount such that a controlled participant’s present value, as of the date of the PCT of its cost sharing alternative equals the present value of its best realistic alternative. This requires that L, the present value of the post-tax income under the CSA, equals the present value of the post-tax income under the licensing alternative, or $196. (ii) FS determines that the post-tax present value of the cost sharing alternative (excluding PCT Payments) is $562. The post-tax present value of the licensing alternative is $196. Accordingly, payments with a post-tax present value of $366 are required. (iii) The Commissioner undertakes an audit of the PCT Payments made by FS to USP for Z in Years 1 through 3. In correspondence to the Commissioner, USP maintains that the arm’s length PCT Payment for Z should have a present value of $366 (D). (iv) The Commissioner considers that if FS makes PCT Payments for Z with a present value of $366, then the post-tax present value under the CSA (considering the deductibility of the PCT Payments) will be $287, substantially higher than the post-tax present value of the licensing arrangement, $196. The Commissioner determines that, under the specific facts and assumptions of this example, the present value of the post-tax payments may be grossed up by a factor of (one minus the tax rate), resulting in a present value of pre-tax payments of $488. Accordingly, FS must make yearly PCT Payments (A, B, and C) such that the present value of the Payments is $488 (D). (When FS’s post-tax income after these PCT Payments for Z is discounted at the appropriate rate for the cost sharing alternative (15%), the net present value is $196 (L), which is equal to the present value of post-tax income under the licensing alternative.) The Commissioner concludes that the calculations that it has made for the PCT Payments for Z are arm’s length in accordance with this paragraph (g)(4) and, accordingly, makes the appropriate adjustments to USP’s income tax return to account for the gross-up required by paragraph (g)(2)(x) of this section ...

§ 1.482-7(g)(4)(viii) Example 4.

Pre-tax PCT Payment derived from post-tax information. (i) For simplicity of calculation in this Example 4, it is assumed that all payments are made at the end of each year. Domestic controlled participant USP has developed a technology, Z, that it would like to exploit for three years in a CSA. USP enters into a CSA with its wholly-owned foreign subsidiary, FS, that provides for PCT Payments from FS to USP with respect to USP’s platform contribution to the CSA of Z in the form of three annual installment payments due from FS to USP on the last day of each of the first three years of the CSA. FS makes no platform contributions to the CSA. Prior to entering into the CSA, FS considers that it has the realistic alternative available to it of licensing Z from USP rather than entering into a CSA with USP to further develop Z for three years. (ii) FS undertakes financial projections for both the licensing and cost sharing alternatives for exploitation of Z in its territory of the CSA. These projections are set forth in the following tables. The example assumes that there is a reasonably anticipated effective tax rate of 25% in each of years 1 through 3 under both the licensing and cost sharing alternatives. FS determines that the appropriate post-tax discount rate under the licensing alternative is 12.5%, and that the appropriate post-tax discount rate under the cost sharing alternative is 15%. Licensing alternative Present value (12.5% DR) Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 (1) Sales $1000 $1100 $1210 (2) License Fee 400 440 484 (3) Operating costs 500 550 605 (4) Operating Income $261 100 110 121 (5) Tax (25%) 25 28 30 (6) Post-tax income $196 $75 $82 $91 Cost sharing alternative Present value (15% DR) Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 (7) Sales $1000 $1100 $1210 (8) Cost Contributions 200 220 242 (9) PCT Payments D A B C (10) Operating costs 500 550 605 (11) Operating income excluding PCT $749 300 330 363 (12) Operating income H E F G (13) Tax (14) Post-tax income excluding PCT $562 $225 $248 $272 (15) Post-tax income L I J K (iii) Under paragraph (g)(4) of this section, the arm’s length charge for a PCT Payment will be an amount such that a controlled participant’s present value, as of the date of the PCT of its cost sharing alternative of entering into a CSA equals the present value of its best realistic alternative. This requires that L, the present value of the post-tax income under the CSA, equals the present value of the post-tax income under the licensing alternative, or $196. (iv) FS determines that PCT Payments for Z should be $196 in Year 1 (A), $215 in Year 2 (B), and $236 in Year 3 (C). By using these amounts for A, B, and C in the table above, FS is able to derive the values of E, F, G, I, J, and K in the table above. Based on these PCT Payments for Z, the post-tax income will be $78 in Year 1 (I), $86 in Year 2 (J), and $95 in Year 3 (K). When this post-tax income stream is discounted at the appropriate rate for the cost sharing alternative (15%), the net present value is $196 (L). The present value of the PCT Payments, when discounted at the appropriate post-tax rate, is $488 (D). (v) The Commissioner undertakes an audit of the PCT Payments made by FS to USP for Z in Years 1 through 3. The Commissioner concludes that the PCT Payments for Z are arm’s length in accordance with this paragraph (g)(4) ...

§ 1.482-7(g)(4)(viii) Example 3.

(i) For simplicity of calculation in this Example 3, all financial flows are assumed to occur at the beginning of each period. USP, a U.S. software company, has developed version 1.0 of a new software application, employed to store and retrieve complex data sets in certain types of storage media. Version 1.0 is currently being marketed. In Year 1, USP enters into a CSA with its wholly-owned foreign subsidiary, FS, to develop future versions of the software application. Under the CSA, USP will have the exclusive rights to exploit the future versions in the U.S., and FS will have the exclusive rights to exploit them in the rest of the world. USP’s rights in version 1.0, and its development team, are reasonably anticipated to contribute to the development of future versions of the software application and, therefore, the rights in version 1.0 are platform contributions for which compensation is due from FS as part of a PCT. USP also transfers the current exploitation rights in version 1.0 to FS and the arm’s length amount of the compensation for such transfer is determined in the aggregate with the arm’s length PCT Payments in this Example 3. FS does not furnish any platform contributions to the CSA nor does it control any operating intangibles at the inception of the CSA that would be relevant to the exploitation of version 1.0 or future versions of the software. It is reasonably anticipated that FS will have gross sales of $1000X in its territory for 5 years attributable to its exploitation of version 1.0 and the cost shared intangibles, after which time the software application will be rendered obsolete and unmarketable by the obsolescence of the storage medium technology to which it relates. FS’s costs reasonably attributable to the CSA, other than cost contributions and operating cost contributions, are anticipated to be $250X per year. Certain operating cost contributions that will be borne by FS are reasonably anticipated to equal $200X per annum for 5 years. In addition, FS is reasonably anticipated to pay cost contributions of $200X per year as a controlled participant in the CSA. (ii) FS concludes that its realistic alternative would be to license software from an uncontrolled licensor that would undertake the commitment to bear the entire risk of software development. Applying CPM using the profit levels experienced by uncontrolled licensees with contractual provisions and allocations of risk that are comparable to those of FS’s licensing alternative, FS determines that it could, as a licensee, reasonably expect a (pre-tax) routine return equal to 14% of gross sales or $140X per year for 5 years. The remaining net revenue would be paid to the uncontrolled licensor as a license fee of $410X per year. FS determines that the discount rate that would be applied to determine the present value of income and costs attributable to its participation in the licensing alternative would be 12.5% as compared to the 15% discount rate that would be applicable in determining the present value of the net income attributable to its participation in the CSA (reflecting the increased risk borne by FS in bearing a share of the R & D costs in the cost sharing alternative). FS also determines that the tax rate applicable to it will be the same in the licensing alternative as in the CSA. (iii) On these facts, the present value to FS of entering into the cost sharing alternative equals the present value of the annual divisional profits ($1,000X minus $250X) minus operating cost contributions ($200X) minus cost contributions ($200X) minus PCT Payments, determined over 5 years by discounting at a discount rate of 15%. Thus, the present value of the residuals, prior to subtracting the present value of the PCT Payments, is $1349X. (iv) On these facts, the present value to FS of entering into the licensing alternative would be $561X determined by discounting, over 5 years, annual divisional profits ($1,000X minus $250X) minus operating cost contributions ($200X) and licensing payments ($410X) at a discount rate of 12.5% per annum. The present value of the cost sharing alternative must also equal $561X but equals $1349X prior to subtracting the present value of the PCT Payments. Consequently, the PCT Payments must have a present value of $788X ...

§ 1.482-7(g)(4)(viii) Example 2.

Arm’s length range. (i) The facts are the same as in Example 1. The Commissioner accepts the financial projections undertaken by FS. Further, the Commissioner determines that the licensing discount rate and the CUT licensing rate are most reliably determined by reference to comparable uncontrolled discount rates and license rates, respectively. The observations that are in the interquartile range of the respective input parameters (see paragraph (g)(2)(ix) of this section) are as follows: Observations that are within interquartile range Comparable uncontrolled discount rate 1 11% 2 12 3 (Median) 13 4 15 5 17 Observations that are within interquartile range Comparable uncontrolled licensing rate 1 30% 2 32 3 (Median) 35 4 37 5 40 (ii) Following the principles of paragraph (g)(2)(ix) of this section, the Commissioner undertakes 25 different applications of the income method, using each combination of the discount rate and licensing rate parameters. In undertaking this analysis, the Commissioner assumes that the ratio of the median discount rate for the cost sharing alternative to the median discount rate for the licensing alternative (that is, 15% to 13%) is maintained. The results of the 25 applications of the income method, sorted in ascending order of calculated present value of the PCT Payment, are as follows: INCOME METHOD APPLICATION NUMBER:: Comparable uncontrolled licensing discount rate Comparable uncontrolled CSA discount rate Comparable uncontrolled licensing rate Calculated lump sum PCT payment Interquartile range of PCT payments 1 17% 19.6% 30% 217 2 17 19.6 32 263 3 15 17.3 30 264 4 15 17.3 32 315 5 13 15 30 321 6 17 19.6 35 331 7 12 13.8 30 354 LQ = 354 8 17 19.6 37 376 9 13 15 32 378 10 11 12.7 30 391 11 15 17.3 35 391 12 12 13.8 32 415 13 15 17.3 37 442 Median = 442 14 17 19.6 40 444 15 11 12.7 32 455 16 13 15 35 464 17 12 13.8 35 505 18 15 17.3 40 517 19 13 15 37 520 UQ = 520 20 11 12.7 35 551 21 12 13.8 37 566 22 13 15 40 605 23 11 12.7 37 615 24 12 13.8 40 655 25 11 12.7 40 710 (iii) Accordingly, the Commissioner determines that a taxpayer will not be subject to adjustment if its initial (ex ante) determination of the present value of PCT Payments is between $354 million and $520 million (the lower and upper quartile results as shown in the last column). Because FS’s determination of the present value of the PCT Payments, $464 million, is within the interquartile range, no adjustments are warranted ...

§ 1.482-7(g)(4)(viii) Example 1.

(i) For simplicity of calculation in this Example 1, all financial flows are assumed to occur at the beginning of each period. USP, a software company, has developed version 1.0 of a new software application that it is currently marketing. In Year 1 USP enters into a CSA with its wholly-owned foreign subsidiary, FS, to develop future versions of the software application. Under the CSA, USP will have the rights to exploit the future versions in the United States, and FS will have the rights to exploit them in the rest of the world. The future rights in version 1.0, and USP’s development team, are reasonably anticipated to contribute to the development of future versions and therefore the rights in version 1.0 and the research and development team are platform contributions for which compensation is due from FS as part of a PCT. USP does not transfer the current exploitation rights in version 1.0 to FS. FS will not perform any research or development activities and does not furnish any platform contributions nor does it control any operating intangibles at the inception of the CSA that would be relevant to the exploitation of version 1.0 or future versions of the software. (ii) FS undertakes financial projections in its territory of the CSA: (1) Year (2) Sales (3) Operating costs (4) Cost contributions (5) Operating income under cost sharing alternative (excluding PCT) 1 0 0 50 −50 2 0 0 50 −50 3 200 100 50 50 4 400 200 50 150 5 600 300 60 240 6 650 325 65 260 7 700 350 70 280 8 750 375 75 300 9 750 375 75 300 10 675 338 68 269 11 608 304 61 243 12 547 273 55 219 13 410 205 41 164 14 308 154 31 123 15 231 115 23 93 FS anticipates that activity on this application will cease after Year 15. The application was derived from software developed by Company Q, an uncontrolled party. FS has a license under Company Q’s copyright, but that license expires after Year 15 and will not be renewed. (iii) In evaluating the cost sharing alternative, FS concludes that the cost sharing alternative represents a riskier alternative for FS than the licensing alternative because, in cost sharing, FS will take on the additional risks associated with cost contributions. Taking this difference into account, FS concludes that the appropriate discount rate to apply in assessing the licensing alternative, based on discount rates of comparable uncontrolled companies undertaking comparable licensing transactions, would be 13% per year, whereas the appropriate discount rate to apply in assessing the cost sharing alternative would be 15% per year. FS determines that the arm’s length rate USP would have charged an uncontrolled licensee for a license of future versions of the software (if USP had further developed version 1.0 on its own) is 35% of the sales price, as determined under the CUT method in § 1.482-4(c). FS also determines that the tax rate applicable to it will be the same in the licensing alternative as in the CSA. Accordingly, the financial projections associated with the licensing alternative are: (6) Year (7) Sales (8) Operating costs (9) Licensing payments (10) Operating income under licensing alternative (11) Operating income under cost sharing alternative minus operating income under licensing alternative 1 0 0 0 0 −50 2 0 0 0 0 −50 3 200 100 70 30 20 4 400 200 140 60 90 5 600 300 210 90 150 6 650 325 228 97 163 7 700 350 245 105 175 8 750 375 263 112 188 9 750 375 263 112 188 10 675 338 236 101 168 11 608 304 213 91 152 12 547 273 191 83 136 13 410 205 144 61 103 14 308 154 108 46 77 15 231 115 81 35 58 (iv) Based on these projections and applying the appropriate discount rate, FS determines that under the cost sharing alternative, the present value of the stream of residuals of its anticipated divisional profits, reduced by the anticipated operating cost contributions and cost contributions, but not reduced by any PCT Payments (that is, the stream of anticipated operating income as shown in column 5) would be $889 million. Under the licensing alternative, the present value of the stream of residuals of its anticipated divisional profits and losses minus the operating cost contributions (that is, the stream of anticipated operating income before licensing payments, which is the present value of column 7 reduced by column 8) would be $1.419 billion, and the present value of the licensing payments would be $994 million. Therefore, the total value of the licensing alternative would be $425 million. In order for the present value of the cost sharing alternative to equal the present value of the licensing alternative, the present value of the PCT Payments must equal $464 million. Therefore, the taxpayer makes and reports PCT Payments with a present value of $464 million ...

§ 1.482-7(g)(4)(vii) Routine platform and operating contributions.

For purposes of this paragraph (g)(4), any routine contributions that are platform or operating contributions, the valuation and PCT Payments for which are determined and made independently of the income method, are treated similarly to cost contributions and operating cost contributions, respectively. Accordingly, wherever used in this paragraph (g)(4), the term “routine contributions†shall not include routine platform or operating contributions, and wherever the terms “cost contributions†and “operating cost contributions†appear in this paragraph, they shall include net routine platform contributions and net routine operating contributions, respectively. Net routine platform contributions are the value of a controlled participant’s total reasonably anticipated routine platform contributions, plus its reasonably anticipated PCT Payments to other controlled participants in respect of their routine platform contributions, minus the reasonably anticipated PCT Payments it is to receive from other controlled participants in respect of its routine platform contributions. Net routine operating contributions are the value of a controlled participant’s total reasonably anticipated routine operating contributions, plus its reasonably anticipated arm’s length compensation to other controlled participants in respect of their routine operating contributions, minus the reasonably anticipated arm’s length compensation it is to receive from other controlled participants in respect of its routine operating contributions ...

§ 1.482-7(g)(4)(vi)(F)(2) Use of differential income stream as a consideration in assessing the best method.

An analysis under the income method that uses a different discount rate for the cost sharing alternative than for the licensing alternative will be more reliable the greater the extent to which the implied discount rate for the projected present value of the differential income stream is consistent with reliable direct evidence of the appropriate discount rate applicable for activities reasonably anticipated to generate an income stream with a similar risk profile to the differential income stream. Such differential income stream is defined as the stream of the reasonably anticipated residuals of the PCT Payor’s licensing payments to be made under the licensing alternative, minus the PCT Payor’s cost contributions to be made under the cost sharing alternative. See Example 8 of paragraph (g)(4)(viii) of this section ...

§ 1.482-7(g)(4)(vi)(F)(1) Reflection of similar risk profiles of cost sharing alternative and licensing alternative.

Because the financial projections associated with the licensing and cost sharing alternatives are the same, except for the licensing payments to be made under the licensing alternative and the cost contributions and PCT Payments to be made under the cost sharing alternative, the analysis of the risk profile and financial projections for a realistic alternative to the cost sharing alternative must be closely associated with the risk profile and financial projections associated with the cost sharing alternative, differing only in the treatment of licensing payments, cost contributions, and PCT Payments. When using discount rates in applying the income method, this means that even if different discount rates are warranted for the two alternatives, the risk profiles for the two discount rates are closely related to each other because the discount rate for the licensing alternative and the discount rate for the cost sharing alternative are both derived from the single probability-weighted financial projections associated with the CSA Activity. The difference, if any, in market-correlated risks between the licensing and cost sharing alternatives is due solely to the different effects on risks of the PCT Payor making licensing payments under the licensing alternative, on the one hand, and the PCT Payor making cost contributions and PCT Payments under the cost sharing alternative, on the other hand. That is, the difference in the risk profile between the two scenarios solely reflects the incremental risk, if any, associated with the cost contributions taken on by the PCT Payor in developing the cost shared intangible under the cost sharing alternative, and the difference, if any, in risk associated with the particular payment forms of the licensing payments and the PCT Payments, in light of the fact that the licensing payments in the licensing alternative are partially replaced by cost contributions and partially replaced by PCT Payments in the cost sharing alternative, each with its own payment form. An analysis under the income method that uses a different discount rate for the cost sharing alternative than for the licensing alternative will be more reliable the greater the extent to which the difference, if any, between the two discount rates reflects solely these differences in the risk profiles of these two alternatives. See, for example, paragraph (g)(2)(iii), Example 2 of this section ...

§ 1.482-7(g)(4)(vi)(E) Certain Circumstances Concerning PCT Payor.

This method may be used even if the PCT Payor furnishes significant operating contributions, or commits to assume the risk of significant operating cost contributions, to the PCT Payor’s division. However, in such a case, any comparable uncontrolled transactions described in paragraph (g)(4)(iii)(A) of this section, and any comparable transactions used under § 1.482-5(c) as described in paragraphs (g)(4)(iii)(B) of this section, should be consistent with such contributions (or reliable adjustments must be made for material differences) ...

§ 1.482-7(g)(4)(vi)(D) Coordination with § 1.482-5(c).

If the licensing alternative is evaluated using the comparable profits method, as described in paragraph (g)(4)(iii)(B) of this section, any additional comparability and reliability considerations stated in § 1.482-5(c) may apply ...

§ 1.482-7(g)(4)(vi)(C) Coordination with § 1.482-4(c)(2).

If the licensing alternative is evaluated using the comparable uncontrolled transactions method, as described in paragraph (g)(4)(iii)(A) of this section, any additional comparability and reliability considerations stated in § 1.482-4(c)(2) may apply ...

§ 1.482-7(g)(4)(vi)(B) Assumptions Concerning Tax Rates.

This method will be more reliable to the extent that the controlled participants’ respective tax rates are not materially affected by whether they enter into the cost sharing or licensing alternative. Even if this assumption of invariant tax rates across alternatives does not hold, this method may still be reliable to the extent that reliable adjustments can be made to reflect the variation in tax rates ...

§ 1.482-7(g)(4)(vi)(A) Coordination with § 1.482-1(c).

Whether results derived from this method are the most reliable measure of an arm’s length result is determined using the factors described under the best method rule in § 1.482-1(c). Thus, comparability and the quality of data, the reliability of the assumptions, and the sensitivity of the results to possible deficiencies in the data and assumptions, must be considered in determining whether this method provides the most reliable measure of an arm’s length result ...

§ 1.482-7(g)(4)(v) Application of income method using differential income stream.

In some cases, the present value of an arm’s length PCT Payment may be determined as the present value, discounted at the appropriate rate, of the PCT Payor’s reasonably anticipated stream of additional positive or negative income over the duration of the CSA Activity that would result (before PCT Payments) from undertaking the cost sharing alternative rather than the licensing alternative (differential income stream). See Example 9 of paragraph (g)(4)(viii) of this section ...

§ 1.482-7(g)(4)(iv)(A)

The present value, using the discount rate appropriate for the cost sharing alternative, of the stream of the reasonably anticipated residuals over the duration of the CSA Activity of divisional profits or losses, minus cost contributions and operating cost contributions; and ...

§ 1.482-7(g)(4)(iv) Lump sum payment form.

Where the form of PCT Payment is a lump sum as of the date of the PCT, then, based on paragraphs (g)(4)(i) through (iii) of this section, the PCT Payment equals the difference between – ...

§ 1.482-7(g)(4)(iii)(B) Evaluation based on CPM.

The present value of the PCT Payor’s licensing alternative may be determined using the comparable profits method, as described in § 1.482-5. In this case, the present value of the licensing alternative is determined as in paragraph (g)(4)(iii)(A) of this section, except that the PCT Payor’s licensing payments, as defined in paragraph (j)(1)(i) of this section, are determined in each period to equal the reasonably anticipated residuals of the divisional profits or losses that would be achieved under the cost sharing alternative, minus operating cost contributions that would be made under the cost sharing alternative, minus market returns for routine contributions, as defined in paragraph (j)(1)(i) of this section. However, treatment of net operating contributions as operating cost contributions shall be coordinated with the treatment of other routine contributions pursuant to this paragraph so as to avoid duplicative market returns to such contributions ...

§ 1.482-7(g)(4)(iii)(A) Evaluation based on CUT.

The present value of the PCT Payor’s licensing alternative may be determined using the comparable uncontrolled transaction method, as described in § 1.482-4(c)(1) and (2). In this case, the present value of the PCT Payor’s licensing alternative is the present value of the stream, over what would be the duration of the CSA Activity under the cost sharing alternative, of the reasonably anticipated residuals of the divisional profits or losses that would be achieved under the cost sharing alternative, minus operating cost contributions that would be made under the cost sharing alternative, minus the licensing payments as determined under the comparable uncontrolled transaction method ...

§ 1.482-7(g)(4)(ii) Evaluation of PCT Payor’s cost sharing alternative.

The present value of the PCT Payor’s cost sharing alternative is the present value of the stream of the reasonably anticipated residuals over the duration of the CSA Activity of divisional profits or losses, minus operating cost contributions, minus cost contributions, minus PCT Payments ...

§ 1.482-7(g)(4)(i)(G)(3)

To the extent that a controlled participant’s tax rate is not materially affected by whether it enters into the cost sharing or licensing alternative (or reliable adjustments may be made for varying tax rates), the factor (that is, one minus the tax rate) may be cancelled from both sides of the equation of the cost sharing and licensing alternative present values. Accordingly, in such circumstance it is sufficient to apply post-tax discount rates to projections of pre-tax income for the purpose of equating the cost sharing and licensing alternatives. The specific applications of the income method described in paragraphs (g)(4)(ii) through (iv) of this section and the examples set forth in paragraph (g)(4)(viii) of this section assume that a controlled participant’s tax rate is not materially affected by whether it enters into the cost sharing or licensing alternative ...

§ 1.482-7(g)(4)(i)(G)(2)

In certain circumstances, post-tax income may be derived as the product of the result of applying a post-tax discount rate to pre-tax income, and a factor equal to one minus the tax rate (as defined in (j)(1)(i)). See paragraph (g)(2)(v)(B) of this section ...

§ 1.482-7(g)(4)(i)(G)(1)

In principle, the present values of the cost sharing and licensing alternatives should be determined by applying post-tax discount rates to post-tax income (including the post-tax value to the controlled participant of the PCT Payments). If such approach is adopted, then the post-tax value of the PCT Payments must be appropriately adjusted in order to determine the arm’s length amount of the PCT Payments on a pre-tax basis. See paragraph (g)(2)(x) of this section ...

§ 1.482-7(g)(4)(i)(F) Discount rates appropriate to cost sharing and licensing alternatives.

The present value of the cost sharing and licensing alternatives, respectively, should be determined using the appropriate discount rates in accordance with paragraphs (g)(2)(v) and (g)(4)(vi)(F) of this section. See, for example, § 1.482-7(g)(2)(v)(B)(1) (Discount rate variation between realistic alternatives). In circumstances where the market-correlated risks as between the cost sharing and licensing alternatives are not materially different, a reliable analysis may be possible by using the same discount rate with respect to both alternatives ...

§ 1.482-7(g)(4)(i)(E) Income method payment forms.

The income method may be applied to determine PCT Payments in any form of payment (for example, lump sum, royalty on sales, or royalty on divisional profit). For converting to another form of payment, see generally paragraph (h) (Form of payment rules) of this section ...

§ 1.482-7(g)(4)(i)(D) Only one controlled participant with nonroutine platform contributions.

This method involves only one of the controlled participants providing nonroutine platform contributions as the PCT Payee. For a method under which more than one controlled participant may be a PCT Payee, see the application of the residual profit method pursuant to paragraph (g)(7) of this section ...

§ 1.482-7(g)(4)(i)(C) Licensing alternative.

The licensing alternative is derived on the basis of a functional and risk analysis of the cost sharing alternative, but with a shift of the risk of cost contributions to the licensor. Accordingly, the PCT Payor’s licensing alternative consists of entering into a license with an uncontrolled party, for a term extending for what would be the duration of the CSA Activity, to license the make-or-sell rights in to-be-developed resources, capabilities, or rights of the licensor. Under such license, the licensor would undertake the commitment to bear the entire risk of intangible development that would otherwise have been shared under the CSA. Apart from any difference in the allocation of the risks of the IDA, the licensing alternative should assume contractual provisions with regard to non-overlapping divisional intangible interests, and with regard to allocations of other risks, that are consistent with the actual CSA in accordance with this section. For example, the analysis under the licensing alternative should assume a similar allocation of the risks of any existing resources, capabilities, or rights, as well as of the risks of developing other resources, capabilities, or rights that would be reasonably anticipated to contribute to exploitation within the parties’ divisions, that is consistent with the actual allocation of risks between the controlled participants as provided in the CSA in accordance with this section. Accordingly, the financial projections associated with the licensing and cost sharing alternatives are necessarily the same except for the licensing payments to be made under the licensing alternative and the cost contributions and PCT Payments to be made under the CSA ...
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