Skip to Content
July 17, 2024 Clouds | 79°F
The 193rd General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

AN ACT RELATIVE TO THE TAXATION OF CORPORATIONS.

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.