Whereas , The deferred operation of this
act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to immediately make certain changes
to corporations, therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary
for the immediate preservation of the public convenience.
Be it enacted
by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by
the authority of the same, as follows:
Chapter
63 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 31J the
following section:-
Section 31K. The adjustments required in subsection
(b) of section 31I as they relate to royalty expenses and costs and related interest
expenses and costs, and in subsection (a) of section 31J as they relate to interest
expenses and costs, shall not apply if the taxpayer establishes by clear and convincing
evidence, as determined by the commissioner and consistent with section 3A of
chapter 62C that:
(1) the royalty expenses and costs and related interest
expenses and costs under section 31I, or interest expenses and costs under section
31J, were directly or indirectly paid or incurred to a related member, as defined
in section 31I, that is not a controlled foreign corporation within the meaning
of section 957 of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended and in effect for the
taxable year; and
(2) all of the following requirements are complied with:
(i) the related member is a resident of a nation which has in force a
comprehensive income tax treaty with the United States;
(ii) the amounts
are deductible under federal income tax law;
(iii) the transaction giving
rise to the royalty expenses and costs and related interest expenses and costs
under section 31I, or interest expenses and costs under section 31J, have a valid
business purpose other than the avoidance of tax that would otherwise be due;
and
(iv) all terms and conditions of the transaction would have been agreed
to in an arm's length negotiation between independent parties.
Approved November 26, 2003.