Precursor Entities
Rev. Proc. 2016-33, section 1.01(7)
(7) The term “precursor entity” means an entity described in § 301.7705-1T(b)(10).
Final and Temporary Regulations, §301.7705-1T(b)(10)
(10) Precursor entity—
(i) In general. A precursor entity means, with respect to a CPEO applicant, any related entity of the CPEO applicant that is or was a provider of employment-related services that—
(A) Has made a substantial asset transfer to the CPEO applicant during the calendar year that the CPEO applicant applies for certification or any of the three preceding calendar years or plans to make such a substantial asset transfer while the application for certification is pending or in the 12- month period following the date of the CPEO applicant’s application for certification; or
(B) Has ceased operations or dissolved during the calendar year that the CPEO applicant applied for certification or any of the three preceding calendar years.
(ii) Related. For purposes of this paragraph (b)(10), a provider of employment-related services is considered a related entity of a CPEO applicant if it is a related entity within the meaning of paragraph (b)(12) of this section or if it would be or would have been such a related entity based on the ownership and responsible individuals of the provider of employment-related services at the time of its substantial asset transfer, ceasing of operations, or dissolution, as applicable, and the ownership and responsible individuals of the CPEO applicant at the time of its application.
Preamble to Final and Temporary Regulations, section 1(c).
c. Precursor Entity
The temporary regulations generally define a precursor entity as including any related entity of a CPEO applicant that is or was a provider of employment- related services and has ceased operations, dissolved, or made a substantial asset transfer to the CPEO applicant during the calendar year that the CPEO applicant applies for certification or any of the three preceding calendar years. A precursor entity also includes a related provider of employment-related services that plans to make a substantial asset transfer to the CPEO applicant while the application for certification is pending or in the 12-month period following the date of the CPEO applicant’s application.
For this purpose, the temporary regulations define a substantial asset transfer as any transfer of 35 percent or more of the value of the transferor’s operating assets, whether through one or a series of transactions and whether accomplished through sale, lease, gift, assignment, succession, merger, consolidation, corporate separation, or any other means. The temporary regulations further provide that operating assets include both tangible and intangible resources related to the conduct of the transferor’s trade or business, including but not limited to such intangible assets as contracts, agreements, receivables, employees, and goodwill (which includes the value of a trade or business based on expected continued customer patronage due to its name, reputation, or any other factors). In the case of a contract described in section 7705(e)(2) or service agreement described in § 31.3504–2(b)(2) 2 with a provider of employment-related services, even if the contract or agreement is not sold, gifted, assigned, or otherwise formally transferred to a CPEO applicant, it will be considered transferred from a person to the CPEO applicant if the person entered into the contract or agreement but the CPEO applicant reports, withholds, or pays, under its employer identification number (EIN), any applicable federal employment taxes with respect to the wages of any individuals covered by the contract or agreement.
Finally, the temporary regulations contain a rule for purposes of determining whether a provider of employment-related services that has ceased operations, dissolved, or made a substantial asset transfer to a CPEO applicant is a related entity of the CPEO applicant. Specifically, the provider of employment-related services is a related entity of a CPEO applicant if it would be or would have been a related entity of the CPEO applicant as described in section 1.b of the preamble at the time of the provider’s ceasing of operations, dissolution, or substantial asset transfer, as applicable. This determination is based on the provider’s ownership and responsible individuals at the time of its ceasing of operations, dissolution, or substantial asset transfer, as applicable, and the ownership and responsible individuals of the CPEO applicant at the time of its application.