On May 5, 2026, the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) released Revenue Procedure 2026-21 (the “Rev. Proc.”), which reinstates a program under which taxpayers may request private letter rulings (“PLRs”) on “significant issues” arising in certain corporate transactions[1] without asking the IRS to rule on the entire integrated transaction.[2]
In the news
In Liberty Global, the Tenth Circuit Leaves Taxpayers with an Opinion with Unresolved Questions
On April 21, 2026, in Liberty Global, Inc. v. United States, the Tenth Circuit held that the economic substance doctrine was “relevant” and applied to deny Liberty Global, Inc. a $2.4 billion deduction and imposed a 40% penalty with respect to a transaction known as “Project Soy”. The Tenth…
Update: Federal Rulings Ease COVID‑Era Interest, Penalty and Filing Burdens
Update: The National Taxpayer Advocate has published a blog post urging taxpayers to evaluate whether they have claims for refund based on the recent Abdo and Kwong decisions. Importantly, the Taxpayer Advocate suggests that the argument for penalty and interest relief based on the COVID pandemic disaster declarations is…
Tax Court Rejects Due Process Challenge to BBA Audit Regime in Jones Bluff
On March 19, 2026, in Jones Bluff, LLC v. Commissioner, 166 T.C. No. 6 (2026), the Tax Court held that a partnership could not assert due process claims to invalidate an IRS adjustment on behalf of its partners under the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 (the “BBA”) regime. The…
Fifth Circuit in Sirius Solutions Reverses Tax Court and Exempts Limited Partners from Self-Employment Tax
On January 16, 2026, in Sirius Solutions, L.L.L.P. v. Commissioner,[1] No. 24-60240 (5th Cir. Jan. 16, 2026), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit reversed the Tax Court and held that, for self-employment tax purposes, a “limited partner” means “a partner in a limited partnership that…
Treasury and the IRS Release Final and Proposed Regulations on Section 892
I. Introduction
On December 15, 2025, the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“Treasury”) and the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) published final regulations (the “Final Regulations”) and proposed regulations (the “Proposed Regulations”) under section 892.[1] The Final Regulations finalize, with modifications…
How Relevant Is It? The Economic Substance Doctrine According to Liberty Global and Patel
I. Introduction
Should courts respect a transaction for tax purposes, when it otherwise complies with the technical requirements of the Internal Revenue Code and regulations? When should a court take the next step and consider the economic substance of a transaction and its motivations?
In two highly-awaited court decisions…
Proposed Regulations Remove Look-Through Rule for Domestically Controlled REITs
I. Introduction
On October 20, 2025, the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“Treasury”) and the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) issued proposed regulations (the “Proposed Regulations”) that would helpfully revoke the current “look-through rule” for domestic C corporation shareholders to determine whether a “real…
Proposed Changes to Interest Rate Tax Treatment for RICs
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (the “OBBBA“), passed by the U.S. House of Representatives (the “House“) on May 22, 2025, is a comprehensive legislative package that seeks to implement sweeping reforms in tax policy, immigration, healthcare, and infrastructure as part of the federal budget reconciliation…
Senator Tillis Introduced a Bill Taxing Proceeds of Litigation Financing Agreements
Senator Thom Tillis introduced a bill (called the “Tackling Predatory Litigation Funding Act”) that would impose additional significant taxes on litigation funding investments. Rep. Kevin Hern (R-OH) introduced a similar bill in the House of Representatives. The bill would apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025, which could include…