Title 26Internal Revenue CodeRelease 119-73

§1295 Qualified electing fund

Title 26 › Subtitle Subtitle A— - Income Taxes › Chapter CHAPTER 1— - NORMAL TAXES AND SURTAXES › Subchapter Subchapter P— - Capital Gains and Losses › Part PART VI— - TREATMENT OF CERTAIN PASSIVE FOREIGN INVESTMENT COMPANIES › Subpart Subpart B— - Treatment of Qualified Electing Funds › § 1295

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

A taxpayer can treat a passive foreign investment company as a qualified electing fund if the taxpayer makes an election and the foreign company follows rules set by the tax official for figuring its ordinary earnings and capital gains. The taxpayer may make this election for any tax year. Once made for a company, it stays in effect for later years unless the taxpayer cancels it with the tax official’s permission. The election must be filed by the tax return due date (including extensions). Rules may allow a later filing if the taxpayer reasonably believed the company was not a PFIC.

Full Legal Text

Title 26, §1295

Internal Revenue Code — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)For purposes of this part, any passive foreign investment company shall be treated as a qualified electing fund with respect to the taxpayer if—
(1)an election by the taxpayer under subsection (b) applies to such company for the taxable year, and
(2)such company complies with such requirements as the Secretary may prescribe for purposes of—
(A)determining the ordinary earnings and net capital gain of such company, and
(B)otherwise carrying out the purposes of this subpart.
(b)(1)A taxpayer may make an election under this subsection with respect to any passive foreign investment company for any taxable year of the taxpayer. Such an election, once made with respect to any company, shall apply to all subsequent taxable years of the taxpayer with respect to such company unless revoked by the taxpayer with the consent of the Secretary.
(2)An election under this subsection may be made for any taxable year at any time on or before the due date (determined with regard to extensions) for filing the return of the tax imposed by this chapter for such taxable year. To the extent provided in regulations, such an election may be made later than as required in the preceding sentence where the taxpayer fails to make a timely election because the taxpayer reasonably believed that the company was not a passive foreign investment company.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1988—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 100–647, § 6127(a), amended subsec. (a) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (a) read as follows: “For purposes of this part, the term ‘qualified electing fund’ means any passive foreign investment company if— “(1) an election under subsection (b) applies to such company for the taxable year, and “(2) such company complies for such taxable year with such requirements as the Secretary may prescribe for purposes of— “(A) determining the ordinary earnings and net capital gain of such company for the taxable year, “(B) ascertaining the ownership of its outstanding stock, and “(C) otherwise carrying out the purposes of this subpart.” Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 100–647, § 6127(a), amended subsec. (b) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (b) read as follows: “(1) In general.—A passive foreign investment company may make an election under this subsection for any taxable year. Such an election, once made, shall apply to all subsequent taxable years of such company for which such company is a passive foreign investment company unless revoked with the consent of the Secretary. “(2) When made.—An election under this subsection may be made for any taxable year at any time before the 15th day of the 3rd month of the following taxable year. To the extent provided in

Regulations

, such an election may be made later than as required by the preceding sentence in cases where the company failed to make a timely election because it reasonably believed it was not a passive foreign investment company.” Pub. L. 100–647, § 1012(p)(37)(A), inserted sentence at end of par. (2) permitting a later election when a company reasonably believed it was not a passive foreign investment company.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1988 AmendmentAmendment by section 1012(p)(37)(A) of Pub. L. 100–647 effective, except as otherwise provided, as if included in the provision of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, Pub. L. 99–514, to which such amendment relates, see section 1019(a) of Pub. L. 100–647, set out as a note under section 1 of this title. Pub. L. 100–647, title VI, § 6127(c), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3715, provided that: “(1) In general.—The

Amendments

made by this section [amending this section and section 1291 of this title] shall take effect as if included in the

Amendments

made by section 1235 of the Reform Act [Pub. L. 99–514]. “(2) Time for making election.—The period during which an election under section 1295(b) of the 1986 Code may be made shall in no event expire before the date 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 10, 1988].”

Effective Date

Section applicable to taxable years of foreign corporations beginning after Dec. 31, 1986, see section 1235(h) of Pub. L. 99–514, set out as a note under section 1291 of this title. Expiration of Subsection (b) Election Period Pub. L. 100–647, title I, § 1012(p)(37)(B), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3522, provided that: “The period during which an election under section 1295(b) of the 1986 Code may be made shall in no event expire before the date 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Nov. 10, 1988].”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

26 U.S.C. § 1295

Title 26Internal Revenue Code

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73