Rev. Rul. 88-21

1988-1 C.B. 245, 1988-13 I.R.B. 6.

                       Internal Revenue Service

                                 Revenue Ruling

              INVENTORIES; LIFO; FINANCIAL CONFORMITY REQUIREMENT

                           Published: March 28, 1988

26 CFR 1.472-2: Requirements incident to adoption and use of LIFO inventory method.

  Inventories; LIFO; financial conformity requirement. Rev. Ruls. 60-224, 73- 66, 74-5 86, 75-50, 76-379, 76-475, 76-531, 77-50, 77-152, 77-408, 78-49, and 79-58, relating to the financial conformity requirement that applies to taxpayers using the LIFO inventory identification method of accounting, are obsolete.

PURPOSE

  This revenue ruling declares obsolete certain revenue rulings relating to t he financial reporting conformity requirement that applies to taxpayers using t he last-in, first-out (LIFO) inventory identification method of accounting.

LAW

  Section 472(c) of the Internal Revenue Code requires a taxpayer using the LIFO method to use no procedure other than the LIFO method as specified in section 472(b)(1) and (3) in inventorying its goods to ascertain the income, profit, or loss of the first tax year for which the LIFO method is to be used, for  the purpose of a report or statement covering such tax year to shareholders, partners, or other proprietors, or to beneficiaries, or for credit purposes. Sect ion 472(e) extends this conformity requirement to subsequent tax years.

  T.D. 7756, 1981-1 C.B.  316, published in the Federal Register on January 22, 1981, amended section 1.472-2(e) of the Income Tax Regulations and prescribed comprehensive new rules for complying with the LIFO conformity requirement set forth  in section 472(c) and (e) of the Code.  Generally, section 1.472-2(e) as amended by T.D. 7756 applies to tax years beginning after December 31, 1953, and ending after August 16, 1954.

HOLDING AND EFFECT ON OTHER DOCUMENTS

  Because of the amendments to section 1.472-2(e) of the regulations by T.D.  7756, the following revenue rulings are obsolete:

     Rev. Rul. 60-244, 1960-2 C.B. 167
     Rev. Rul. 73-66, 1973-1 C.B. 218
     Rev. Rul. 74-586, 1974-2 C.B. 156
     Rev. Rul. 75-50, 1975-1 C.B. 152
     Rev. Rul. 76-379, 1976-2 C.B. 138
     Rev. Rul. 76-475, 1976-2 C.B. 139
     Rev. Rul. 76-531, 1976-2 C.B. 140
     Rev. Rul. 77-50, 1977-1 C.B. 137
     Rev. Rul. 77-152, 1977-1 C.B. 138
     Rev. Rul. 77-408, 1977-2 C.B. 184
     Rev. Rul. 78-49, 1978-1 C.B. 145
     Rev. Rul. 79-58, 1979-1 C.B. 187

DRAFTING INFORMATION

  The principal author of this revenue ruling is Richard Davis of the Corporation Tax Division. For further information regarding

this revenue ruling contact Mr. Davis on (202) 343-2383 (not a toll-free call).

Rev. Rul. 88-21, 1988-1 C.B. 245, 1988-13 I.R.B. 6.