Update: On April 13, the IRS issued a revenue
procedure that addresses a number of the concerns discussed in this
memo. For more on the revenue procedure, click here.
I.
Introduction
The COVID-19 pandemic has created significant headwinds for
mortgage loans. Loan forbearances and workouts raise tax
complexities for real estate mortgage investment conduits (REMICs),
which are the most common vehicles for securitizing mortgage
loans. With careful planning, REMICs can continue to be
highly useful during these difficult times. This alert
explores the feasibility of continuing to use REMICs to securitize
mortgage loans subject to forbearance and potential default as a
result of the pandemic.1