rp-00-38.pdf

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Part III
Administrative, Procedural, and Miscellaneous
26 CFR 601.204: Changes in accounting periods and in methods of accounting.
(Also Part I, §§ 446, 481; 1.446-1, 1.481-1.)
Rev. Proc. 2000-38
SECTION 1. PURPOSE
This revenue procedure provides three permissible methods of accounting for
distributor commissions (as defined in § 2 below). A taxpayer may change to or adopt
any of the three methods. This revenue procedure provides procedures for a taxpayer
to obtain consent from the Commissioner of Internal Revenue to change to any of the
three methods of accounting for distributor commissions, including rules relating to the
limitations, terms, and conditions the Commissioner deems necessary to make the
change.
SECTION 2. DEFINITIONS
Under Rule 12b-1 (17 C.F.R. § 270.12b-1), an open-end regulated investment
company (“mutual fund”) may adopt, for one or more classes of its shares, a plan that
permits it to use fund assets to pay a fee to cover distribution costs of fund shares
(“distribution fee”). For purposes of this revenue procedure, the term “distributor
commissions” means commissions paid or incurred by a distributor of a mutual fund on
the sale of mutual fund shares for which the distributor is to receive a distribution fee
from the mutual fund and, in some cases, a contingent deferred sales charge from the
investor in future taxable year(s) (typically referred to in the mutual fund industry as “B

shares”). Distributor commissions do not include commissions paid or incurred on the
sale of mutual fund shares for which the distributor is to receive a distribution fee and,
in some cases, a contingent deferred sales charge in future taxable years and will make
commission payments to the selling broker in an amount equal to the amount it
receives each year that the shares remain outstanding (typically referred to in the
mutual fund industry as “C shares”).
SECTION 3. BACKGROUND
.01 Mutual funds generally distribute new shares to the public through a distributor.
If an investor purchases mutual fund shares through a broker, either the investor or the
distributor pays the brokerage commissions. If the distributor pays the brokerage
commissions (i.e., distributor commissions), the distributor typically recovers this cost by
collecting from the mutual fund a distribution fee in accordance with Rule 12b-1 and, in
some cases, by receiving a sales charge from the investor if the shares are redeemed
within a specified period of time.
.02 Under § 446, the Commissioner has broad authority to determine whether a
method of accounting clearly reflects income. Under § 446(b), if a taxpayer’s method of
accounting does not clearly reflect income, the computation of taxable income must be
made under a method that, in the opinion of the Secretary, does clearly reflect income.
See Thor Power Tool Co. v. Commissioner
, 439 U.S. 522 (1979), 1979-1 C.B. 167;
Commissioner v. Hansen, 360 U.S. 446 (1959), 1959-2 C.B. 460; § 1.446-1(c)(2)(ii) of
the Income Tax Regulations.
.03 To minimize disputes regarding the accounting for distributor commissions and
to provide appropriate methods for matching those commissions with the related

distribution fees and sales charges so as to clearly reflect income, the Internal Revenue
Service will permit a taxpayer that complies with the requirements of this revenue
procedure to account for distributor commissions using any of the three permissible
methods of accounting described in § 5 of this revenue procedure. A taxpayer may use
any of these three methods to account for the distributor commissions related to each
class of shares within each mutual fund for which it acts as a distributor.
.04 A change in a taxpayer’s treatment of distributor commissions to any of the
three permissible methods described in § 5 of this revenue procedure is a change in
method of accounting to which §§ 446 and 481 apply. Sections 446(e) and 1.446-1(e)
provide that, except as otherwise provided, a taxpayer must secure the consent of the
Commissioner before changing a method of accounting for federal income tax
purposes. Section 1.446-1(e)(3)(ii) authorizes the Commissioner to prescribe
administrative procedures setting forth the limitations, terms, and conditions deemed
necessary to permit a taxpayer to obtain consent to change a method of accounting.
SECTION 4. SCOPE
This revenue procedure applies to a taxpayer that chooses to account for distributor
commissions under any of the three permissible methods of accounting for distributor
commissions provided in § 5 of this revenue procedure. This revenue procedure does
not apply to amortizable section 197 intangibles.
SECTION 5. PERMISSIBLE METHODS OF ACCOUNTING
.01 DISTRIBUTION FEE PERIOD METHOD.
(1) Description of Method. The treatment of distributor commissions in accordance
with the distribution fee period method is a permissible method of accounting. Under

the distribution fee period method, a taxpayer must capitalize distributor commissions
paid or incurred during the taxable year on the sale of shares in a mutual fund and
amortize those amounts ratably over a specific recovery period determined by the
number of years for which the 12b-1 plan provides the taxpayer is to receive a
distribution fee from the mutual fund as a result of the sale of those shares (distribution
fee period). Amortization for a short taxable year is based on the number of months in
the short taxable year (taking into account the half-year convention if § 5.01(2)(b)
applies).
(2) Pooling Allowed.
(a) For purposes of accounting for distributor commissions under the distribution fee
period method, a taxpayer may establish one or more pools of commissions. A pool
may be established with respect to distributor commissions related to a class of shares
of a mutual fund sold in a single taxable year. A pool of distributor commissions may
contain commissions related to a class of mutual fund shares sold in a single taxable
year from one or more mutual funds, provided the distributor commissions for each
class of mutual fund shares is accounted for under the distribution fee method.
However, a pool may only include distributor commissions related to a class of mutual
fund shares sold in a single taxable year with the same distribution fee period and the
same compensation structure.
(b) A taxpayer that establishes annual pools for purposes of using the distribution
fee period method must compute the amount of the amortization deduction using a half-
year convention.

(c) Distribution fees have the same compensation structure if they are calculated on
the basis of the same percentage of the mutual fund's average net assets.
(3) Termination of Right to Distribution Fees.
(a) Basis recovery allowed. A taxpayer that uses the distribution fee period method
described in this § 5.01 may account for the termination of its right to receive a
distribution fee for a particular share in a mutual fund by claiming in the year of
termination a loss or, for a sale of the distributor's right to all, or an undivided interest in
a part, of its future distribution fees for the share, an offset against sales proceeds. A
taxpayer that uses pools in connection with the distribution fee period method described
in this § 5.01 determines its unrecovered basis in its right to receive distribution fees for
particular shares in a prior year pool that are terminated by multiplying its unrecovered
basis in the applicable pool of distributor commissions as of the beginning of the year
by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of terminated shares for which
commissions were in the pool as of the beginning of the year and the denominator of
which is the number of shares for which commissions were in the pool as of the
beginning of the year. To determine the unrecovered basis for its right to receive
distribution fees for a particular share in a current year pool that is terminated in the
initial year (i.e., the year the share giving rise to the right to receive distribution fees is
sold), the taxpayer must multiply the unrecovered basis in the applicable pool as of the
end of the year by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares
terminated during the year for which commissions in the pool were paid or incurred
during the year and the denominator of which is the number of shares sold during the
year for which commissions in that pool were paid or incurred during the year. The

unrecovered basis in the applicable pool of distributor commissions must be reduced by
the basis allocable to the terminated shares, as determined in the preceding two
sentences, before calculating the amortization deduction for the year. If a taxpayer
does not have sufficient information to relate a termination event to a specific pool, the
taxpayer must treat the termination event as relating to the earliest remaining pool in
accordance with the principles of § 1.1012-1(c)(1).
(b) Termination events. For purposes of § 5.01(3)(a) of this revenue procedure, a
taxpayer's right to a distribution fee for a particular share terminates when the taxpayer
is no longer entitled to receive a distribution fee related to that share in subsequent
years. Termination may occur as a result of (i) a sale of the distributor's right to all
future distribution fees for the share, (ii) the redemption of the share by the shareholder,
or (iii) the conversion of the share into another class of shares for which the taxpayer is
not entitled to receive a distribution fee. If a taxpayer sells an undivided interest in its
right to all present and future distribution fees associated with a share or a portion of a
pool, termination occurs in proportion to the interest sold.
.02 5-YEAR METHOD.
(1) Description of Method. The treatment of distributor commissions in accordance
with the 5-year method is a permissible method of accounting. Under the 5-year
method, a taxpayer must capitalize distributor commissions paid or incurred during the
taxable year and amortize those amounts ratably over a 5-year period. Amortization for
a short taxable year is based on the number of months in the short taxable year (taking
into account the half-year convention).
(2) Pooling Required.

(a) For purposes of accounting for distributor commissions under the 5-year
method, a taxpayer must establish one or more pools of commissions. All commissions
related to a class of shares of a mutual fund sold in a single taxable year must be in the
same pool. A pool of distributor commissions may contain commissions related to
classes of mutual fund shares from one or more mutual funds, provided the distributor
commissions for each of the classes of mutual fund shares are accounted for using the
5-year method.
(b) A taxpayer that uses the 5-year method must compute the amount of the
amortization deduction using a half-year convention.
(3) Termination of Right to Distribution Fees. A taxpayer that uses the 5-year
method described in this § 5.02 may not claim a loss or an offset against sales
proceeds for the unamortized portion of a distributor commission as a result of a
termination event for a particular share, as described in § 5.01(3)(b) of this revenue
procedure. However, if the taxpayer experiences a termination event with respect to
the distribution fees related to all the shares in a pool, the taxpayer may claim a loss or
an offset against sales proceeds for the unamortized portion of the distributor
commissions in that pool. In addition, if a taxpayer sells an undivided interest in its right
to all present and future distribution fees for all the shares in a pool, the taxpayer
experiences a termination event with respect to the pool, but only in proportion to the
interest sold, and may claim the corresponding loss or offset against sales proceeds.
.03 USEFUL LIFE METHOD
(1) Description of Method. The treatment of distributor commissions in accordance
with the useful life method is a permissible method of accounting. Under the useful life

method, a taxpayer must capitalize distributor commissions paid or incurred during the
taxable year and recover those amounts over their estimated useful life. See §
1.167(a)-1(b).
(2) Determination of Useful Life. The recovery method and useful life of distributor
commissions must be established by taking into account all the facts and
circumstances including, for example, (i) the period during which the taxpayer is to
receive distribution fees from a mutual fund under the 12b-1 plan with respect to
particular shares, and (ii) the experience of the taxpayer regarding how long a typical
share burdened with a given distribution fee remains outstanding after purchase. See §
1.167(a)-1(b).
(3) Pooling Allowed. For purposes of accounting for distributor commissions under
the useful life method, a taxpayer may establish one or more pools of commissions. A
taxpayer that establishes annual pools under the useful life method must compute the
amount of the amortization deduction using a half-year convention.
(4) Retirement of Right to Distribution Fees. The determination of whether or not a
taxpayer using the useful life method may claim a loss is governed by §1.167(a)-8. For
example, if the useful life of the distributor commissions under the useful life method
does not reflect any retirements, including a termination of a right to a distribution fee,
the taxpayer may claim a loss for the unamortized portion of a distributor commission
as a result of a retirement. If the useful life of the distributor commissions under the
useful life method is an average useful life that reflects retirements, the taxpayer may
not claim a loss for the unamortized portion of a distributor commission as a result of a
retirement, regardless of whether the distributor commission is accounted for as a

single asset or in a pool, unless distributor commissions related to all the shares in the
pool are retired.
SECTION 6. CHANGE IN METHOD OF ACCOUNTING
.01 Change to the Distribution Fee Period Method, the 5-year Method, or the Useful
Life Method. A taxpayer that wants to change its method of accounting for distributor
commissions for the taxable year that includes January 1, 2001, to any of the three
methods described in this revenue procedure must follow the automatic change in
method of accounting provisions in Rev. Proc. 99-49, 1999-52 I.R.B. 725, (or its
successor) with the following modifications:
(1) A taxpayer that files a copy of the Form 3115, Application for Change in
Accounting Method, to change its method of accounting for distributor commissions
with the national office of the Internal Revenue Service on or before April 2, 2001, is not
subject to the scope limitations in § 4.02 of Rev. Proc. 99-49, unless the taxpayer's
method of accounting for distributor commissions is an issue under consideration
before a federal court within the meaning of § 3.09(3) of Rev. Proc. 99-49. If the
taxpayer is under examination, before an appeals office, or before a federal court at the
time that a copy of the Form 3115 is filed with the national office, the taxpayer must
provide a duplicate copy of the Form 3115 to the examining agent, appeals officer, or
counsel for the government, as appropriate, at the time the copy of the Form 3115 is
filed. The Form 3115 must contain the name(s) and telephone number(s) of the
examining agent, appeals officer, or counsel for the government, as appropriate. If the
taxpayer's method of accounting for distributor commissions is an issue pending within
the meaning of § 6.01(6) of this revenue procedure at the time that a Form 3115 is filed

with the national office, the taxpayer also must provide to the examining agent or
appeals officer, as appropriate, an executed closing agreement substantially in the form
set forth in APPENDIX A of this revenue procedure.
(2) The change must be made using a cut-off method and applies only to distributor
commissions paid or incurred on or after January 1, 2001. Because no items are
duplicated or omitted from income when a cut-off method is used, a § 481(a)
adjustment described in § 5.03 of Rev. Proc. 99-49 is not necessary. See § 2.06 of
Rev. Proc. 99-49.
(3) The year of change is the taxable year that includes January 1, 2001.
(4) Section 6.02(2)(a) of Rev. Proc. 99-49 is modified to allow the required copy of
the Form 3115 to be filed with the national office before the first day of the year of
change if the taxpayer properly files a Form 3115 under this revenue procedure.
(5) In order to assist the Internal Revenue Service in processing changes in method
of accounting under this revenue procedure, and to ensure proper handling,
§ 6.02(3)(a) of Rev. Proc. 99-49 is modified to require that a Form 3115 filed under this
revenue procedure include the statement: “Automatic Change Filed Under [insert
section number] of Rev. Proc. 2000-38.” This statement must be legibly printed or
typed at the top of any Form 3115 filed under this revenue procedure.
(6) For purposes of this revenue procedure, the taxpayer's method of accounting for
distributor commissions is an issue pending if the Service has given the taxpayer written
notification indicating an adjustment is being made or will be proposed with respect to
the taxpayer's method of accounting for distributor commissions. This will normally
occur after the Service has gathered information sufficient to determine that a proposed

adjustment is appropriate and justified, although the exact amount of the adjustment
may not yet be determined.
.02 Audit Protection. If a taxpayer complies with the requirements of this revenue
procedure for changing its method of accounting for distributor commissions to any of
the three methods of accounting described in this revenue procedure, the treatment of
distributor commissions will not be raised as an issue in any taxable year before the
year of change and, if the treatment of distributor commissions has already been raised
as an issue in a taxable year before the year of change, the treatment of distributor
commissions will not be further pursued.
.03 Changes Not Made under this Revenue Procedure. A taxpayer that wants to
change from a method of currently deducting distributor commissions to a method of
capitalizing and amortizing distributor commissions under any of the three methods
described in this revenue procedure for any taxable year other than the taxable year
that includes January 1, 2001, must follow the automatic change in method of
accounting provisions in Rev. Proc. 99-49. However, this change must be made on a

cut-off basis as described in § 2.06 of Rev. Proc. 99-49. A change from one method of
amortizing described in this revenue procedure to another method of amortizing
described in this revenue procedure, and a change from pooling to single asset, or vice
versa, under the distribution fee period method or the useful life method, must be made
in accordance with the automatic change in method of accounting provisions in § 2.02
of the APPENDIX of Rev. Proc. 99-49. A change in the useful life of distributor
commissions under the distribution fee period method or the useful life method is not a
change in method of accounting. See § 1.446-1(e)(2)(ii)(b
).
SECTION 7. EFFECTIVE DATE
This revenue procedure is effective October 2, 2000.
SECTION 8. EFFECT ON OTHER DOCUMENTS
Rev. Proc. 99-49 is modified and amplified to include this accounting method
change in the APPENDIX.
DRAFTING INFORMATION
The principal author of this revenue procedure is John Moriarty of the Office of
Associate Chief Counsel (Income Tax and Accounting). For further information about
this revenue procedure, contact John Moriarty at (202) 622-4950 (not a toll-free call).

APPENDIX A
Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service
Closing Agreement on Final Determination
Covering Specific Matters
___________________
Under § 7121 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
[Taxpayer's name, address, telephone number, and identifying number]
("the taxpayer") and the Commissioner of Internal Revenue make the following closing
agreement:
WHEREAS, the taxpayer is a distributor of open-end regulated investment companies
(“mutual funds”).
WHEREAS, the taxpayer is an accrual basis taxpayer.
WHEREAS, the taxpayer incurs commissions on the sale of shares in the mutual funds for
which the taxpayer is to receive a distribution fee under Rule 12b-1 (17 C.F.R. § 270.12b-1).
For purposes of this closing agreement, the term “distributor commissions” has the
meaning ascribed to it in Rev. Proc. 2000-38.
WHEREAS, the taxpayer seeks to account for distributor commissions under one of the
methods described in Rev. Proc. 2000-38 and has filed a Form 3115 requesting permission
to change its method of accounting for distributor commissions in accordance with Rev.
Proc. 2000-38 and the Commissioner is relying on that Form 3115 in proceeding with this
closing agreement.
NOW IT IS HEREBY DETERMINED AND AGREED for federal income tax purposes:
1. That the taxpayer changes its present method of accounting for distributor
commissions for purposes of filing federal tax returns to the [Insert name of method]
method described in Rev. Proc. 2000-38 effective for the taxable year which includes
January 1, 2001 ("year of change"). The Commissioner consents to that change in method
of accounting.
2. That the execution of this agreement does not signify the Commissioner's agreement
with the useful life or recovery method selected by the taxpayer. In accordance with §
601.204(c) of the Statement of Procedural Rules, in examining returns

[INSERT TAXPAYER'S NAME]
involving the adoption of either the useful life method or the distribution fee period method
the Commissioner will ascertain whether the representations on which the change in
method of accounting is based, including representations related to the useful life of the
distributor commissions, reflect an accurate statement of the material facts.
3. That the taxpayer's change in accounting method for distributor commissions must
be made using a cut-off method without an adjustment under § 481(a).
4. That the Commissioner accepts the taxpayer's reported method of accounting for
distributor commissions for all taxable years prior to the year of change.
5. That this agreement does not preclude the taxpayer from requesting, nor the Service
from requiring, a change in the taxpayer's method of accounting for distributor
commissions for years after the year of change.
This agreement is final and conclusive except:
(1) The matter it relates to may be reopened in the event of fraud, malfeasance or misrepresentation of a
material fact;
(2) It is subject to the Internal Revenue Code Sections that expressly provide that effect be given to their
provisions (including any stated exception for I.R.C. § 7122) notwithstanding any law or rule of law; and
(3) If it relates to a tax period ending after the date of this agreement, it is subject to any law enacted after
the agreement date, that applies to the tax period.
By Signing, the parties certify that they have read and agreed to the terms of this document.
Taxpayer (other than individual):
By: Date:
Title:
Commissioner of Internal Revenue
By: Date:
Title:

[INSERT TAXPAYER'S NAME]
Instructions
This agreement must be signed and filed in triplicate. (All copies must have original signatures.) The original
and copies of the agreement must be identical. The name of the taxpayer must be stated accurately. The
agreement may relate to one or more years.
If an attorney or agent signs the agreement for the taxpayer, the power of attorney (or a copy) authorizing
that person to sign must be attached to the agreement. If the agreement is made for a year when a joint
income tax return was filed by a husband and wife, it should be signed by or for both spouses. One spouse
may sign as agent for the other if the document (or a copy) specifically authorizing that spouse to sign is
attached to the agreement.
If the fiduciary signs the agreement for a decedent or an estate, an attested copy of the letters testamentary or
the court order authorizing the fiduciary to sign, and a certificate of recent date that the authority remains in
full force and effect must be attached to the agreement. If a trustee signs, a certified copy of the trust
instrument or a certified copy of extracts from that instrument must be attached showing:
(1) the date of the instrument;
(2) that it is or is not of record in any court;
(3) the names of the beneficiaries;
(4) the appointment of the trustee, the authority granted, and other information necessary to show that the
authority extends to Federal tax matters; and
(5) that the trust has not been terminated, and that the trustee appointed is still acting. If a fiduciary is a
party, Form 56, Notice Concerning Fiduciary Relationship, is ordinarily required.
If the taxpayer is a corporation, the agreement must be dated and signed with the name of the corporation,
the signature and title of an authorized officer or officers, or the signature of an authorized attorney or agent.
It is not necessary that a copy of an enabling corporate resolution be attached.
Use additional pages if necessary, and identify them as part of this agreement.
Please see Revenue Procedure 68-16, C. B. 1968 1, page 770, for a detailed description of practices and
procedures applicable to most closing agreements.

[INSERT TAXPAYER'S NAME]
I have examined the specific matters involved and
recommend the acceptance of the proposed
agreement

(Receiving Officer) (Date)
(Title)
I have examined the specific matters involved and
recommend the acceptance of the proposed
agreement

(Reviewing Officer) (Date)

(Title)