8838-P Consent To Extend the Time To Assess Tax Pursuant to the

8838-P

Form
(Rev. October 2021)

Consent To Extend the Time To Assess Tax
Pursuant to the Gain Deferral Method (Section 721(c))

Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Name(s) of consenting taxpayer(s)

▶

▶ Attach to your income tax return.
Go to www.irs.gov/Form8865 for the latest information.

OMB No. 1545-1668
Attachment
Sequence No. 146

Identifying number (see instructions)
Social security number of spouse (only if a joint income tax
return was filed)

Number, street, and room or suite no. If a P.O. box, see instructions.
City or town, state or province, country, and ZIP or foreign postal code

The taxpayer(s) listed above and the Commissioner of the IRS, according to the regulations under section 721(c), agree to the
following.
1a For gain deferral contributions, the amount of any federal income tax due on the gain realized, but not recognized, upon the contribution described on line 5,
,
,
below, on any income tax return made by or for the above taxpayer(s) for the tax year ended
month
day
year
,
,
may be assessed at any time on or before
(see instructions); and
month
day
year
The amount of any federal income tax due as a result of the allocation of book and tax items with respect to the section 721(c)
property described on line 5, below, on any income tax return made by or for the above taxpayer(s) for the tax year
,
,
ended
may be assessed at any time on or
month
day
year
,
,
(see instructions).
before
month
day
year
b For contributions not subject to the gain deferral method, the amount of any federal income tax due on the gain recognized
upon the contribution described on line 5, below, on any income tax return made by or for the above taxpayer(s) for the tax year
,
,
ended
may be assessed at any time on or
month
day
year
,
,
(see instructions).
before
month
day
year
2
This consent establishes an extended period for assessing tax. The expiration of the extended period may be suspended or
otherwise affected by the operation of law in the same manner as the original period. For example, if a notice of deficiency in
tax covered by this consent is issued, the period for assessing tax won’t end prior to the end of the suspension period
provided for by section 6503(a), plus any time that remains in the assessment period, as extended, at the time the suspension
takes effect. Under no circumstances will this consent reduce the period of time otherwise provided by law for making an assessment.
3

The consenting taxpayer(s) may file a claim for credit or refund for the tax assessed by reason of this consent within 6 months
after the period ends for assessing tax established by this consent.

4

The amount of any deficiency assessment covered by this consent will be limited to the amount of any federal income tax due
on the gain realized, whether or not recognized, on the contribution described on line 5 (and as applicable, the federal income
tax due as a result of the allocation of book and tax items with respect to the section 721(c) property) including any penalties,
additions to tax, and interest attributable to it and consequential changes to other items based on that adjustment.

5

Complete the following information (see instructions).
a Date of contribution
b Description of the section 721(c) property
c

Name of section 721(c) partnership (as defined in Regulations section 1.721(c)-1(b)(14)) and identifying number, if any

Signature of consenting taxpayer (see instructions)
Signature of spouse (complete only if a joint return is filed)
Taxpayer’s representative sign here
Corporate officer(s) sign here

For Paperwork Reduction Act Notice, see the instructions.

▲ ▲ ▲ ▲

▲ ▲ ▲ ▲

Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have examined this consent, including accompanying statements and schedules, and to the best of my knowledge and belief, it’s
true, correct, and complete. A signed consent, properly completed in accordance with this form and its instructions, is deemed to have been executed by the Commissioner
of the IRS.

Cat. No. 69698U

Date
Date
Date
Date
Form

8838-P (Rev. 10-2021)

Page 2

Form 8838-P (Rev. 10-2021)

General Instructions
Section references are to the Internal Revenue Code unless otherwise
noted.

Future Developments
For the latest information about developments related to Form 8838-P
and its instructions, such as legislation enacted after they were
published, go to www.irs.gov/Form8865.

Purpose of Form
To apply the gain deferral method (as described in Regulations section
1.721(c)-3), Form 8838-P must be used for:
• A gain deferral contribution (defined in Regulations section
1.721(c)-1(b)(7)), and
• A contribution, that isn’t a gain deferral contribution, of section 721(c)
property (defined in Regulations section 1.721(c)-1(b)(15)) to a section
721(c) partnership (defined in Regulations section 1.721(c)-1(b)(14))
within five partnership tax years following the partnership tax year that
includes a gain deferral contribution.
See Regulations section 1.721(c)-6(b)(5)(i) through (iii).
For definitions and other information about contributions of property
to a section 721(c) partnership, see Regulations sections 1.721(c)-1
through 1.721(c)-7.
Consent to extend the time to assess tax. Although you aren’t
required to extend the period of limitations on assessment of tax under
the terms and conditions provided in this form, for a gain deferral
contribution, failure to do so as required under Regulations section
1.721(c)-6(b)(5) will result in gain recognition. For a contribution, that
isn’t a gain deferral contribution, of section 721(c) property to a section
721(c) partnership, failure to file this form as required under Regulations
section 1.721(c)-6(b)(5)(iii) may constitute an acceleration event under
Regulations section 1.721(c)-4(b)(2)(i) for a gain deferral contribution that
occurred within five partnership tax years prior to the contribution.

Who Must File
A U.S. transferor must file Form 8838-P in order to apply the gain
deferral method as described in Regulations section 1.721(c)-3 upon a
contribution of section 721(c) property to a section 721(c) partnership.
For purposes of section 721(c), the term “U.S. transferor” includes:
• A citizen or resident of the United States.
• A domestic corporation.
• Any estate or trust (other than a foreign estate or trust under section
7701(a)(31)).
See also Regulations section 1.721(c)-1(b)(18)(i).

How To File
Attach Form 8838-P to a U.S. transferor’s income tax return for:
• A gain deferral contribution for the tax year in which the gain deferral
contribution is made and annually as required under Regulations section
1.721(c)-6(b)(5), and
• A contribution, that isn’t a gain deferral contribution, of section 721(c)
property to a section 721(c) partnership for the tax year in which the
contribution is made.

Specific Instructions
Identifying Number
The identifying number of an individual is the social security number. For
all other taxpayers, it’s the employer identification number.

Address
Include the suite, room, or other unit number after the street address. If
the Post Office doesn’t deliver mail to the street address and the
transferor has a P.O. box, show the box number instead.

Line 1a
To apply the gain deferral method upon a gain deferral contribution, a
U.S. transferor must agree to extend the period of limitations as
described in Regulations section 1.721(c)-6(b)(5)(i). A U.S. transferor
must also agree to extend the period of limitations under Regulations
section 1.721(c)-6(b)(5)(ii). A U.S. transferor must agree to extend the
period of limitations under Regulations section 1.721(c)-6(b)(5)(i) through
the date that is 96 months after the close of the tax year that includes
the date of the contribution. A U.S. transferor must also agree to extend
the period of limitations under Regulations section 1.721(c)-6(b)(5)(ii) for
the subsequent two years through the date that is 72 months after the
close of such tax year.

Line 1b
Contributions upon which gain is recognized. A contribution of
section 721(c) property to a section 721(c) partnership, upon which gain
is recognized, made within five partnership tax years following the
partnership tax year that includes a gain deferral contribution, is subject
to Regulations section 1.721(c)-6(b)(5)(iii). With respect to the gain
recognized, a U.S. transferor must agree to extend the period of
limitations under Regulations section 1.721(c)-6(b)(5)(iii) through the date
that is 60 months after the close of the tax year that includes that date
of the contribution.

Line 5
If there is more than one section 721(c) property, provide the information
requested on line 5 for each property. For each section 721(c) property,
indicate whether the gain deferral method is being applied.

Line 5c
If the gain deferral contribution is subject to the tiered partnership rules
under Regulations section 1.721(c)-3(d), identify all upper- and lower-tier
partnerships.

Signature
In general. The rules for signatures are provided in Regulations section
1.721(c)-6(e).
Joint returns. If this consent is made for any year for which a joint
income tax return is filed, both husband and wife must sign Form 8838P unless one, acting under a power of attorney, signs as an agent for
the other.
Corporation. If the taxpayer is a corporation, a responsible officer of the
corporation must sign the return and show his or her title. Affiliated
groups filing a consolidated income tax return should see Regulations
section 1.1502-77 for rules about a common parent signing as an agent
for subsidiaries and alternative agents for affiliated groups.
Attorney or Agent. If you’re an attorney or agent of the taxpayer(s), you
may sign this consent if that action is specifically authorized by a power
of attorney. Form 2848, Power of Attorney and Declaration of
Representative, provides the authority on line 5a, Acts authorized.
Attach a copy of Form 2848 to Form 8838-P.
Fiduciaries. If you’re acting as a trustee and you sign this consent, you
must attach a copy of Form 56, Notice Concerning Fiduciary
Relationship, and the trust instrument. If you are acting as an executor,
administrator, or other fiduciary of an estate, you must attach a copy of
Form 56, and the certified copy of letters of testamentary or court
certificate certifying as to the present status of the estate, including the
name of the present fiduciary and capacity.
Bankruptcy case under Title 11, United States Code. The trustee
must sign the consent in a case under Title 11 if the trustee has
possession of, or holds title to all, or substantially all, of the property or
business of a corporation.

Form 8838-P (Rev. 10-2021)

Paperwork Reduction Act Notice
We ask for the information on this form to carry out the Internal Revenue
laws of the United States. You’re required to give us the information. We
need it to ensure that you’re complying with these laws and to allow us
to figure and collect the right amount of tax.
You aren’t required to provide the information requested on a form
that is subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act unless the form displays
a valid OMB control number. Books or records relating to a form or its
instructions must be retained as long as their content may become
material in the administration of any Internal Revenue law. Generally, tax
returns and return information are confidential, as required by Code
section 6103.

Page 3

The time needed to complete and file this form will vary depending on
individual circumstances. The estimated burden for individual taxpayers
filing this form is approved under OMB control number 1545-0074 and
is included in the estimates shown in the instructions for their individual
income tax return. The estimated burden for all other taxpayers who file
this form is shown below.
Recordkeeping . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 hr., 32 min.
Learning about the law or the form . . . . . . 1 hr., 33 min.
Preparing the form . . . . . . . . . . . 2 hr., 37 min.
Copying, assembling, and sending
the form to the IRS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 min.
If you have comments concerning the accuracy of these time
estimates or suggestions for making this form simpler, we’d be happy to
hear from you. See the instructions for the tax return with which this
form is filed.