DRAFT
General Overview
Overview of IRC Section 988 Nonfunctional Currency Transactions
This Concept Unit covers the following:
1) “Functional currency” (FC) and its application,
2) Definition of Section 988 transactions,
3) Computation of foreign currency gain/loss under IRC 988 on receivables/payables denominated in a nonfunctional currency
(including US GAAP ASC 830 (formerly FAS 52) differences), and
4) Computation of foreign exchange gain/loss under IRC 988 on debt instruments denominated in a nonfunctional currency.
Except as provided in the code and regulations, a taxpayer’s functional currency is the US dollar (USD). A taxpayer or a Qualified
Business Unit (QBU) - any separate and clearly identified unit of a taxpayer that maintains separate books and records) may, under
certain circumstances, have a non-USD functional currency (see IRC 985(b); Treas. Reg. 1.985-1(b) and (c)). Note that US
Corporations must have the USD as their functional currency, although t heir foreign branches may have non-USD functional
currencies (a QBU can have a functional currency that is different from its owner). The functional currency is relevant for taxpayers
that have transactions in multiple currencies. Transactions are accounted for in the taxpayer's functional currency. Certain
nonfunctional currency transactions, called “Section 988 transactions” generally give rise to functional currency gain or loss.
Transactions that require the use of a currency other then US dollar have dramatically increased as more taxpayers do business
globally. Generally, when US resident taxpayers invest and do business transactions in non US currency, all federal tax
determinations must be made in USD. Section 988 transactions include debt instruments, payables, receivables, forward contracts,
futures contracts, options or similar instruments denominated in any nonfunctional currency. Also when a taxpayer owns or has a
position in a nonfunctional currency asset or liability that generates a Section 988 transaction, the US taxpayer must calculate foreign
currency gain or loss. (See the above paragraph f or a description of the term “functional currency.”) Sections 985 to 989 provide rules
for making translations and measuring foreign currency gain or losses.
IRC 988 and its regulations generally provide that foreign currency gain or loss with respect to a transaction is (1) recognized at the
time of the sale or disposition of nonfunctional currency denominated property, (2) characterized as ordinary gain or loss, and (3)
sourced based upon the residence of the holder.
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