N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 20, § 16-2.22
(b) The test of ownership is actual beneficial ownership, rather than mere record title as shown by the stock books of the issuing corporation. Actual beneficial ownership of stock does not mean indirect ownership or control of a corporation through a corporate structure consisting of several tiers and/or chains. A corporation will not be considered to be a subsidiary merely because more than 50 percent of the shares of its voting stock is registered in the taxpayer's name, unless the taxpayer is the actual beneficial owner of such stock. However, a corporation will not be considered a subsidiary if more than 50 percent of the shares of its voting stock is not registered in the taxpayer's name, unless the taxpayer submits proof that it is the actual beneficial owner of such stock.
Example 1:
Corporation A is engaged in a stock brokerage business. Corporation A holds record title in street name to 60 percent of the voting stock of Corporation X, a publicly traded corporation. Corporation A holds record title to this stock on behalf of 100 corporate customers, none of which owns more than one percent of the stock of Corporation X. These 100 corporations are the actual beneficial owners of the stock of Corporation X which is held in street name by Corporation A. Even though Corporation A is the record title holder of more than 50 percent of the voting stock of Corporation X, Corporation X is not a subsidiary of Corporation A because Corporation A is not the actual beneficial owner of the stock.
Example 2:
Corporation C is the record title holder of 100 percent of the voting stock of Corporation D. Corporation C has the right to sell or pledge such stock. Corporation C receives all dividends paid by Corporation D. Corporation C enjoys the economic benefits, and bears the risk of economic loss, deriving from the sale of such stock. Corporation C is the actual beneficial owner of Corporation D's voting stock. Corporation D is a subsidiary of Corporation C.
Corporation B is the owner of 100 percent of the voting stock of Corporation C. Corporation B is not the actual beneficial owner of Corporation D's voting stock merely by virtue of the fact that, through its ownership of the voting stock of Corporation C, Corporation B has practical control of the activities of Corporation D. Corporation D is not a subsidiary of Corporation B.
Tax Law, § 1450(d)