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Client Qualification Checklist for Transferable Tax Credit Purchases
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| # | Question | Where to look |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ☐ Entity: C corporation, closely held C corporation, personal service corporation, individual or trust, or owner of a pass-through? | IRS Transferability FAQ Q15; IRC §469(j) |
| 2 | ☐ Forecast federal income tax for the year (regular tax and any §55 tax). | IRC §38(c)(1) |
| 3 | ☐ Compute the §38(c) ceiling and subtract credits already earned (research and others). | Form 3800 instructions |
| 4 | ☐ If passive rules apply: net passive income and the tax attributable to it. Exclude wages, portfolio income and investment gains. | IRC §469(d)(2), (e)(1); Form 8582-CR / Form 8810 |
| 5 | ☐ Material participation reviewed for each activity. | Temp. Reg. §1.469-5T |
| 6 | ☐ Estimated tax dates; will the benefit be taken in an installment? | IRC §6655 / §6654; IRS FAQ Q12 |
| 7 | ☐ Client understands the cash price is not deductible and the discount is not gross income. | IRC §6418(b); Reg. §1.6418-2(e), (f)(2) |
| 8 | ☐ Buyer is unrelated to the seller; payment is cash only. | IRS FAQ Q4 and Q5 |
| 9 | ☐ Registration number received for each credit property; valid for the tax year. | Form 3800 instructions; Reg. §1.6418-4 |
| 10 | ☐ Credit calculation, placed-in-service and qualification evidence reviewed. | Credit-specific form; Reg. §1.6418-2 |
| 11 | ☐ Recapture window, notification clause, indemnity and insurance terms reviewed. | IRC §50(a); Reg. §1.6418-5(d) |
| 12 | ☐ Excessive credit transfer exposure (20% addition) discussed. | IRC §6418(g)(2) |
| 13 | ☐ Transfer election statement and return timing planned for both parties. | IRC §6418(d), (e)(1); IRS FAQ Q6 |
| 14 | ☐ Accounting treatment agreed with auditors (ASC 740). | Deloitte DART; PwC Viewpoint |
| 15 | ☐ Referral compensation, if any, disclosed in writing and compliant with state board and AICPA rules. | Your state board; AICPA Code |
Sources
- IRS: Elective pay and transferability FAQs, Transferability (Q4-Q15)
- 26 U.S.C. §38, General business credit (Cornell LII)
- 26 U.S.C. §469, Passive activity losses and credits limited (Cornell LII)
- 26 CFR §1.6418-2, Rules for making transfer elections
- 26 CFR §1.6418-5, Rules for transferee taxpayers and recapture
- IRS: Instructions for Form 3800, General Business Credit
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