Inquiries have been received as to whether enactment of the Revenue Act of 1964, Public Law 88-272, 78 Stat. 19, approved February 26, 1964, will permit affiliated corporations a new election to file separate returns in lieu of consolidated returns.

Since the Revenue Act of 1964 constitutes a significant change in the tax laws, the Treasury Department has authorized a new election to file separate returns for the first taxable year for which returns are due to be filed after the date of enactment of the Act.

Accordingly, a new election to file separate returns is authorized for the first taxable year for which returns are due to be filed after February 26, 1964. In this regard returns due to be filed after February 26, 1964 (including any extensions of time granted by the Commissioner) will be considered as filed 55 T.C. 313">*316 and the election exercised on such due date regardless of the actual previous date of filing. However, the last return (or returns) whether1970 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 31">*36 original or revised, filed on or before the due date for the return (including any extensions of time for filing such return), will be considered the return or returns filed on such date.

For the taxable year 1964, the correct income tax liability as shown on the original separate returns, after giving effect to agreed deficiencies, totals $ 262,086. The correct income tax liability on a consolidated dated return basis is $ 168,587.

For the taxable year 1965, the correct income tax liability as shown on the original separate returns, after giving effect to agreed deficiencies, totals $ 262,086. The correct income tax liability on a consolidated return basis is $ 281,425.

In this case, the petitioner and its subsidiaries duly filed consolidated returns for the calendar years 1961, 1962, and 1963. The return for 1963 was filed pursuant to a general extension of time for filing on June 16, 1964.

For the calendar years 1964 and 1965, petitioner and each of its subsidiaries filed separate returns. The respondent contends that the petitioner and its subsidiaries could not elect to file separate returns for such years.

The parties concede that the enactment of the Revenue Act of 19641970 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 31">*37 (Pub. L. 88-272), which became law on February 26, 1964, constituted a significant change in the tax laws (as defined in sec. 1.1502-11A, Income Tax Regs.) authorizing a new election to file separate returns. Insofar as applicable, this regulation provides:

If a consolidated return is made under section 1502 for any taxable year, a consolidated return must be made for each subsequent taxable year during which the affiliated group remains in existence unless * * * (2) subsequent to the exercise of the election to make consolidated returns, subtitle A of the Code to the extent applicable to corporations, or the regulations under section 1502 which have been consented to, have been amended and any such amendment is of a character which makes substantially less advantageous to affiliated groups as a class the continued filing of consolidated returns, regardless of the effective date of such amendment, * * *

The only question in dispute relates to the proper year or return in which the petitioner and its subsidiaries were required to elect to file separate returns on account of the changes effected by the Revenue Act of 1964.

The respondent argues that the petitioner was required to1970 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 31">*38 have made a timely election to file separate returns at the time of filing its return for the calendar year 1963 even though any amendments to the law in the Revenue Act of 1964 did not affect the tax liability of the petitioner and its subsidiaries, either on a consolidated basis or separately for the year 1963. The respondent relies on Rev. Rul. 64-110, 1964-1 C.B. 325.

55 T.C. 313">*317 The petitioner contends that the regulations -- which must be given the effect of law -- should be construed so as to permit an election to file separate returns in the return for the taxable year ending after the date of the enactment of the Revenue Act of 1964. The rationale of this view is that the election should be permitted only for the year affected by the legislation and not, as respondent argues, for a prior year in anticipation of the legislation.

In this case, the change of law occurred "subsequent to the exercise of the election to make consolidated returns" by the petitioner and its subsidiaries. In this respect, the facts of this case are distinguishable from the facts in Corn Belt Hatcheries of Arkansas, Inc., 52 T.C. 636">52 T.C. 636 (1969).

1970 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 31">*39 Furthermore, that portion of the decision in the Corn Belt Hatcheries case in which this Court commented upon the preciseness of respondent's announcement in T.I.R. 552 (published as Rev. Rul. 64-110) that he was keying the right of election to the filing of the first return due after enactment of the Revenue Act of 1964 is not supportive of respondent's argument here. In that case, in the context of discussing the respondent's failure in Rev. Rul. 62-204 to specify with clarity the conditions which he proposed to establish regarding the availability of the right of election, this Court merely complimented the respondent for his preciseness in stating his position in Rev. Rul. 64-110. This compliment was not an endorsement of respondent's substantive position.

A review of the rulings which have been promulgated by the respondent since the conditions upon which taxpayers could elect to discontinue the filing of consolidated returns were established indicates a lack of consistency on the part of respondent. Originally, the respondent appears to have taken1970 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 31">*40 the position in published rulings that the election was exercisable only for the taxable year affected by the legislation. ¹1970 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 31">*41 In 1962, the respondent permitted the election to be exercised 55 T.C. 313">*318 either in the year in which the first return was filed after the enactment of new legislation or in the return for the first taxable year ending after the enactment of new legislation. ² Finally, under an amendment to the consolidated return regulations, effective for taxable years after December 31, 1965, the respondent now prescribes as part of the regulations that the election to discontinue the filing of consolidated returns must ordinarily be made in the return for the taxable year in which a change in the regulations or a change in the law becomes effective. ³

Respondent argues that his position is supported by the "legislative guidance" found in H. Rept. No. 1337 (dealing with the House proposals for the Internal Revenue Code of 1954). The House proposal included the consolidated return regulations in H.R. 8300 (the Internal Revenue Code of 1954). In the House discussion surrounding this action, the House Ways and Means Committee particularized, in H. Rept. No. 1337, page A298, as to the taxable year in which an affiliated group which had filed consolidated returns was required to exercise a new election to file separate returns stating:

Thus, a change in the law which occurred in January or February of one year would give rise to a right of election with regard to the return to be filed for the previous year on April 15 or such later date as the Secretary or his delegate may (by extension of time) permit. This provision has no relevance to the applicability of the change in the law or with respect to the year to1970 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 31">*42 which such change is first effective. The principle reflected here is a reflection of the view of your committee that the election to file returns upon a consolidated basis is a long-term decision. Unless the law is changed, the affiliated group which elects to file a consolidated return in one year is expected to continue to file such a return for all later years. Accordingly, if a change is made, the fact that the change itself, for example, is not applicable to the year for which the next return is to be filed is not significant. For example, if the affiliated group files a return for the calendar year 1953 on September 15, 1954, the provisions of this subtitle, if enacted prior to such date, although only applicable to taxable years 55 T.C. 313">*319 beginning after December 31, 1953, will provide a right to file separate returns for the taxable year 1953 even though consolidated returns were filed for 1952, and even though the changes made in this subtitle have no application to the return to be filed for the taxable year 1953. As a corollary to this, a return to be filed for the taxable year 1954 must be a consolidated return if a consolidated return was filed for the taxable year1970 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 31">*43 1953, * * *

We do not believe that this "legislative guidance" is a basis for our acceptance of the respondent's position. The Senate rejected the House attempt to codify the consolidated return regulations on the grounds that "desirable flexibility would be lost if this pattern were followed." S. Rept. No. 1622, 83d Cong., 2d Sess., p. 460 (1954). When it did so reject the House approach, that portion of H. Rept. No. 1337 (set out above) which would have placed a new interpretation on section 1.1502-11A(a)(2), Income Tax Regs., also became a nullity.

In addition, in Rev. Rul. 54-365, 1954-2 C.B. 13, the first revenue ruling issued under the consolidated return regulations after the enactment of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, respondent disregarded this "legislative guidance" and provided for a new election to file separate returns for the first taxable year for which returns were due to be filed after the date of enactment of the new Code and for the first taxable year ending after the date of such enactment. On this basis, we cannot accept the "legislative guidance" (set out above) as supportive of respondent's position in Rev. Rul. 64-110, 1964-1 C.B. 325.

1970 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 31">*44 Furthermore, while the respondent's varying positions on the question before us are of historical interest, they are not determinative of the issue. For many years, the regulations have provided that affiliated corporations electing to file a consolidated return may elect to file separate returns on account of substantive changes in the laws or regulations "subsequent to the exercise of the election to make consolidated returns." The conditions spelled out in the regulations indicate that such a change in the law or regulations, subsequent to the exercise of the original election, constitutes a qualifying event "regardless of the effective date of such amendment." In our opinion, this can only refer to the effective date of the amendment as applied to the original election and would have no reference to the effective date of the amendment as applied to the subsequent election to discontinue the filing of consolidated returns.

We believe it is clear that the respondent, through the issuance of a revenue ruling, could grant what amounted to a general permission for corporations filing consolidated returns to elect to file separate returns exercisable at such times and in such manner1970 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 31">*45 as the respondent might prescribe. Until the change in the regulations applicable to years beginning in 1966, we would characterize prior rulings as being 55 T.C. 313">*320 nothing more than the exercise by the respondent of his authority to grant permission for a change.

On the other hand, we must regard the regulations promulgated by the respondent under the special authority granted to him by statute in regards to consolidated returns, including the requirement that those filing such returns must accept those regulations, as endowing the regulations with the same stature as if specifically enacted by the Congress. The respondent is not only bound by the regulations, but in the event he proposes a substantive change in those regulations, the taxpayer is granted a new election.

If we look to the respondent's regulations, we find no basis for limiting the exercise of a new election to the return filed by the taxpayer for the taxable year 1963 when that year was entirely unaffected by any change in the law or regulations resulting from the enactment of the Revenue Act of 1964.

Without questioning the discretionary authority of the respondent to permit the taxpayer to make such an election1970 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 31">*46 in anticipation of a change in the law, we find nothing that would justify requiring the taxpayer to anticipate the change. On the contrary, the only logical conclusion is that the regulation, which has the express approval of Congress, should be construed as authorizing a new election in the return for the year in which the change in the law or regulation is applicable. Assuming that all other conditions imposed are met, we are saying that if there is to be exclusivity in the selection of a year for which a new election must be granted, that exclusivity should relate only to the return for the year affected by the change.

Decision will be entered for the petitioner.