§267 — Title 26 Internal Revenue Code | U.S. Code

Summary

You cannot take a tax deduction for a loss when you sell or trade property to certain related people. That rule stops people from creating tax losses by moving property among close relations. If you are the seller or buyer and you are in one of the listed relationships, the loss is not allowed. The law lists 13 types of related parties, including family (brothers and sisters, spouse, parents, and direct descendants), an individual and a corporation more than 50 percent owned by that person, two corporations in the same controlled group (where “controlled group” is like the usual tax definition but uses more than 50 percent instead of 80 percent), certain trust grantors, trustees, and beneficiaries, a person and an organization they control, a corporation and a partnership if the same people own more than 50 percent of both, S corporations and other corporations when the same people own more than 50 percent, and an executor and beneficiary (except for a sale to satisfy a fixed-money gift). A loss from a distribution in a complete liquidation is allowed, and transfers between spouses or because of divorce are also allowed. If a payment would not be included in the recipient’s income because of how they keep records, the payer cannot deduct that payment until the recipient must report it. Special rules apply when the recipient is foreign. For amounts payable to a controlled foreign corporation or a passive foreign investment company, a payer can deduct earlier only if a U.S. owner includes the item in income. The Treasury can exempt ordinary business transactions and payments made within 8½ months after they are counted. For partnerships and S corporations, the rule applies to the entity and to people who own interests in them, with the same constructive-ownership rules used for stock, except some changes (for example, a C corporation’s ownership only counts for a shareholder if the shareholder owns 5 percent or more). If a disallowed loss later leads to gain when the buyer sells the property, that gain can be reduced by the earlier disallowed loss unless another rule blocks it (such as the wash-sale rule). There are other special rules for losses inside controlled groups (those losses are generally deferred until property leaves the group), for low-income housing partnerships with small partners (5 percent or less) under specific timing and interest limits (payments required within 10 years, interest not over 12 percent), and for a few other narrowly described situations.

Title 26, §267

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(a)(1)No deduction shall be allowed in respect of any loss from the sale or exchange of property, directly or indirectly, between persons specified in any of the paragraphs of subsection (b). The preceding sentence shall not apply to any loss of the distributing corporation (or the distributee) in the case of a distribution in complete liquidation.

(2)If—

(A)by reason of the method of accounting of the person to whom the payment is to be made, the amount thereof is not (unless paid) includible in the gross income of such person, and

(B)at the close of the taxable year of the taxpayer for which (but for this paragraph) the amount would be deductible under this chapter, both the taxpayer and the person to whom the payment is to be made are persons specified in any of the paragraphs of subsection (b),

(3)(A)The Secretary shall by regulations apply the matching principle of paragraph (2) in cases in which the person to whom the payment is to be made is not a United States person.

(B)(i)Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), in the case of any item payable to a controlled foreign corporation (as defined in section 957) or a passive foreign investment company (as defined in section 1297), a deduction shall be allowable to the payor with respect to such amount for any taxable year before the taxable year in which paid only to the extent that an amount attributable to such item is includible (determined without regard to properly allocable deductions and qualified deficits under section 952(c)(1)(B)) during such prior taxable year in the gross income of a United States person who owns (within the meaning of section 958(a)) stock in such corporation.

(ii)The Secretary may by regulation exempt transactions from the application of clause (i), including any transaction which is entered into by a payor in the ordinary course of a trade or business in which the payor is predominantly engaged and in which the payment of the accrued amounts occurs within 8½ months after accrual or within such other period as the Secretary may prescribe.

(b)The persons referred to in subsection (a) are:

(1)Members of a family, as defined in subsection (c)(4);

(2)An individual and a corporation more than 50 percent in value of the outstanding stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by or for such individual;

(3)Two corporations which are members of the same controlled group (as defined in subsection (f));

(4)A grantor and a fiduciary of any trust;

(5)A fiduciary of a trust and a fiduciary of another trust, if the same person is a grantor of both trusts;

(6)A fiduciary of a trust and a beneficiary of such trust;

(7)A fiduciary of a trust and a beneficiary of another trust, if the same person is a grantor of both trusts;

(8)A fiduciary of a trust and a corporation more than 50 percent in value of the outstanding stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by or for the trust or by or for a person who is a grantor of the trust;

(9)A person and an organization to which section 501 (relating to certain educational and charitable organizations which are exempt from tax) applies and which is controlled directly or indirectly by such person or (if such person is an individual) by members of the family of such individual;

(10)A corporation and a partnership if the same persons own—

(A)more than 50 percent in value of the outstanding stock of the corporation, and

(B)more than 50 percent of the capital interest, or the profits interest, in the partnership;

(11)An S corporation and another S corporation if the same persons own more than 50 percent in value of the outstanding stock of each corporation;

(12)An S corporation and a C corporation, if the same persons own more than 50 percent in value of the outstanding stock of each corporation; or

(13)Except in the case of a sale or exchange in satisfaction of a pecuniary bequest, an executor of an estate and a beneficiary of such estate.

(c)For purposes of determining, in applying subsection (b), the ownership of stock—

(1)Stock owned, directly or indirectly, by or for a corporation, partnership, estate, or trust shall be considered as being owned proportionately by or for its shareholders, partners, or beneficiaries;

(2)An individual shall be considered as owning the stock owned, directly or indirectly, by or for his family;

(3)An individual owning (otherwise than by the application of paragraph (2)) any stock in a corporation shall be considered as owning the stock owned, directly or indirectly, by or for his partner;

(4)The family of an individual shall include only his brothers and sisters (whether by the whole or half blood), spouse, ancestors, and lineal descendants; and

(5)Stock constructively owned by a person by reason of the application of paragraph (1) shall, for the purpose of applying paragraph (1), (2), or (3), be treated as actually owned by such person, but stock constructively owned by an individual by reason of the application of paragraph (2) or (3) shall not be treated as owned by him for the purpose of again applying either of such paragraphs in order to make another the constructive owner of such stock.

(d)(1)If—

(A)in the case of a sale or exchange of property to the taxpayer a loss sustained by the transferor is not allowable to the transferor as a deduction by reason of subsection (a)(1), and

(B)the taxpayer sells or otherwise disposes of such property (or of other property the basis of which in the taxpayer’s hands is determined directly or indirectly by reference to such property) at a gain,

(2)Paragraph (1) shall not apply if the loss sustained by the transferor is not allowable to the transferor as a deduction by reason of section 1091 (relating to wash sales).

(3)Paragraph (1) shall not apply to the extent any loss sustained by the transferor (if allowed) would not be taken into account in determining a tax imposed under section 1 or 11 or a tax computed as provided by either of such sections.

(e)(1)In the case of any amount paid or incurred by, to, or on behalf of, a pass-thru entity, for purposes of applying subsection (a)(2)—

(A)such entity,

(B)in the case of—

(i)a partnership, any person who owns (directly or indirectly) any capital interest or profits interest of such partnership, or

(ii)an S corporation, any person who owns (directly or indirectly) any of the stock of such corporation,

(C)any person who owns (directly or indirectly) any capital interest or profits interest of a partnership in which such entity owns (directly or indirectly) any capital interest or profits interest, and

(D)any person related (within the meaning of subsection (b) of this section or section 707(b)(1)) to a person described in subparagraph (B) or (C),

(2)For purposes of this section, the term “pass-thru entity” means—

(A)a partnership, and

(B)an S corporation.

(3)For purposes of determining ownership of a capital interest or profits interest of a partnership, the principles of subsection (c) shall apply, except that—

(A)paragraph (3) of subsection (c) shall not apply, and

(B)interests owned (directly or indirectly) by or for a C corporation shall be considered as owned by or for any shareholder only if such shareholder owns (directly or indirectly) 5 percent or more in value of the stock of such corporation.

(4)In the case of any amount paid or incurred by a partnership, subsection (a)(2) shall not apply to the extent that section 707(c) applies to such amount.

(5)(A)This subsection shall not apply with respect to qualified expenses and interest paid or incurred by a partnership owning low-income housing to—

(i)any qualified 5-percent or less partner of such partnership, or

(ii)any person related (within the meaning of subsection (b) of this section or section 707(b)(1)) to any qualified 5-percent or less partner of such partnership.

(B)For purposes of this paragraph, the term “qualified 5-percent or less partner” means any partner who has (directly or indirectly) an interest of 5 percent or less in the aggregate capital and profits interests of the partnership but only if—

(i)such partner owned the low-income housing at all times during the 2-year period ending on the date such housing was transferred to the partnership, or

(ii)such partnership acquired the low-income housing pursuant to a purchase, assignment, or other transfer from the Department of Housing and Urban Development or any State or local housing authority.

(C)For purpose of this paragraph, the term “qualified expenses and interest” means any expense or interest incurred by the partnership with respect to low-income housing held by the partnership but—

(i)only if the amount of such expense or interest (as the case may be) is unconditionally required to be paid by the partnership not later than 10 years after the date such amount was incurred, and

(ii)in the case of such interest, only if such interest is incurred at an annual rate not in excess of 12 percent.

(D)For purposes of this paragraph, the term “low-income housing” means—

(i)any interest in property described in clause (i), (ii), (iii), or (iv) of section 1250(a)(1)(B), and

(ii)any interest in a partnership owning such property.

(6)For additional rules relating to partnerships, see section 707(b).

(f)(1)For purposes of this section, the term “controlled group” has the meaning given to such term by section 1563(a), except that—

(A)“more than 50 percent” shall be substituted for “at least 80 percent” each place it appears in section 1563(a), and

(B)the determination shall be made without regard to subsections (a)(4) and (e)(3)(C) of section 1563.

(2)In the case of any loss from the sale or exchange of property which is between members of the same controlled group and to which subsection (a)(1) applies (determined without regard to this paragraph but with regard to paragraph (3))—

(A)subsections (a)(1) and (d) shall not apply to such loss, but

(B)such loss shall be deferred until the property is transferred outside such controlled group and there would be recognition of loss under consolidated return principles or until such other time as may be prescribed in regulations.

(3)(A)For purposes of applying subsection (a)(1), the term “controlled group” shall not include a DISC.

(B)Except to the extent provided in regulations prescribed by the Secretary, subsection (a)(1) shall not apply to the sale or exchange of property between members of the same controlled group (or persons described in subsection (b)(10)) if—

(i)such property in the hands of the transferor is property described in section 1221(a)(1),

(ii)such sale or exchange is in the ordinary course of the transferor’s trade or business,

(iii)such property in the hands of the transferee is property described in section 1221(a)(1), and

(iv)the transferee or the transferor is a foreign corporation.

(C)To the extent provided in regulations, subsection (a)(1) shall not apply to any loss sustained by a member of a controlled group on the repayment of a loan made to another member of such group if such loan is payable in a foreign currency or is denominated in such a currency and such loss is attributable to a reduction in value of such foreign currency.

(D)Except to the extent provided in regulations prescribed by the Secretary, subsection (a)(1) shall not apply to any distribution in redemption of stock of a regulated investment company if—

(i)such company issues only stock which is redeemable upon the demand of the stockholder, and

(ii)such redemption is upon the demand of another regulated investment company.

(4)For purposes of any other section of this title which refers to a relationship which would result in a disallowance of losses under this section, deferral under paragraph (2) shall be treated as disallowance.

(g)Subsection (a)(1) shall not apply to any transfer described in section 1041(a) (relating to transfers of property between spouses or incident to divorce).

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Editorial Notes

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2015—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 114–113 amended subsec. (d) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “If— “(1) in the case of a sale or exchange of property to the taxpayer a loss sustained by the transferor is not allowable to the transferor as a deduction by reason of subsection (a)(1); and “(2) the taxpayer sells or otherwise disposes of such property (or of other property the basis of which in his hands is determined directly or indirectly by reference to such property) at a gain, then such gain shall be recognized only to the extent that it exceeds so much of such loss as is properly allocable to the property sold or otherwise disposed of by the taxpayer. This subsection shall not apply if the loss sustained by the transferor is not allowable to the transferor as a deduction by reason of section 1091 (relating to wash sales).” 2014—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 113–295, in concluding provisions, struck out “This subsection applies with respect to taxable years ending after

December 31, 1953. ” after “by the taxpayer.” and “or by reason of section 118 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1939” after “sales)”. Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 113–295 struck out “(or by reason of section 24(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1939)” after “subsection (a)(1)”. Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 113–295 struck out “after

December 31, 1953,” before “the taxpayer”. 2010—Subsec. (f)(3)(D). Pub. L. 111–325 added subpar. (D). 2004—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 108–357 designated existing provisions as subpar. (A), inserted heading, and added subpar. (B). 1999—Subsec. (f)(3)(B)(i), (iii). Pub. L. 106–170 substituted “1221(a)(1)” for “1221(1)”. 1997—Subsec. (b)(13). Pub. L. 105–34, § 1308(a), added par. (13). Subsec. (f)(4). Pub. L. 105–34, § 1604(e)(1), added par. (4). 1988—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 100–647, § 1006(e)(9), struck out “(other than a loss in case of a distribution in corporate liquidation)” after “exchange of property” and inserted at end “The preceding sentence shall not apply to any loss of the distributing corporation (or the distributee) in the case of a distribution in complete liquidation.” Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 100–647, § 1008(e)(6), made technical correction to directory language of Pub. L. 99–514, § 806(c)(2), see 1986 Amendment note below. 1986—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 99–514, § 806(c)(2), as amended by Pub. L. 100–647, § 1008(e)(6), inserted at end “For purposes of this paragraph, in the case of a personal service corporation (within the meaning of section 441(i)(2)), such corporation and any employee-owner (within the meaning of section 269A(b)(2), as modified by section 441(i)(2)) shall be treated as persons specified in subsection (b).” Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 99–514, § 1812(c)(1), added par. (3). Subsec. (b)(12). Pub. L. 99–514, § 1812(c)(4)(A), substituted “same persons own” for “same persons owns”. Subsec. (e)(5)(D). Pub. L. 99–514, § 803(b)(5), substituted in cl. (i) “interest in property described in clause (i), (ii), (iii), or (iv) of section 1250(a)(1)(B)” for “interest in low-income housing (as defined in paragraph (5) of section 189(e))” and in cl. (ii) “such property” for “low-income housing (as so defined)”. Subsec. (e)(6). Pub. L. 99–514, § 1812(c)(3)(C), added par. (6). Subsec. (f)(3)(B). Pub. L. 99–514, § 1812(c)(2), inserted “(or persons described in subsection (b)(10))”. Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 99–514, § 1842(a), added subsec. (g). 1984—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 98–369, § 174(a), amended subsec. (a) generally, substituting “In general” for “Deduction disallowed” in heading, “Deduction for losses disallowed” for “Losses” in par. (1) heading, and provisions dealing with matching of deduction and payee income item in the case of expenses and interest for provisions dealing with unpaid expenses and interest in par. (2). Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 98–369, § 174(b)(2)(A), substituted “Two corporations which are members of the same controlled group (as defined in subsection (f))” for “Two corporations more than 50 percent in value of the outstanding stock of each of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by or for the same individual, if either one of such corporations, with respect to the taxable year of the corporation preceding the date of the sale or exchange was, under the law applicable to such taxable year, a personal holding company or a foreign personal holding company”. Subsec. (b)(10). Pub. L. 98–369, § 174(b)(3), substituted “A corporation” for “An S corporation” in introductory provisions and “the corporation” for “the S corporation” in subpar. (A). Subsec. (b)(12). Pub. L. 98–369, § 174(b)(4), substituted “the same persons” for “the same individual”. Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 98–369, § 174(b)(1), added subsec. (e). Pub. L. 98–369, § 174(a)(2), struck out subsec. (e) which provided that for purposes of subsection (a)(2) where the last day of the 2½ month period falls on Saturday, Sunday, or a legal holiday, such last day be treated as falling on the next succeeding day which is not a Saturday, Sunday, or a legal holiday, and the determination of what constitutes a legal holiday be made under section 7503 with respect to the payor’s return of tax under this chapter for the preceding taxable year. Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 98–369, § 174(b)(2)(B), added subsec. (f). Pub. L. 98–369, § 174(b)(1), struck out subsec. (f) which related to special rules for unpaid expenses and interest of S corporations and treatment under such provisions of certain shareholders, etc., as related persons. Pub. L. 98–369, § 721(s), in closing provision of par. (1) substituted “then any deduction allowable under such sections in respect of such amount shall be allowable as of the day as of which such payment is includible in the gross income of the person to whom the payment is made (or, if later, as of the day on which it would be so allowable but for this paragraph)” for “then no deduction shall be allowed in respect of expenses otherwise deductible under section 162 or 212, or of interest otherwise deductible under section 163, before the day as of which the amount thereof is includible in the gross income of the person to whom the payment is made”. 1982—Subsec. (b)(10) to (12). Pub. L. 97–354, § 3(h)(1), (3), added pars. (10) to (12). Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 97–354, § 3(h)(2), added subsec. (f). 1978—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 95–628 added subsec. (e).

made by subsection (b) (other than paragraph (1) thereof) [amending this section and section 170, 368, 514, and 1235 of this title] shall apply to transactions after December 31, 1983, in taxable years ending after such date. “(B) Exception for transfers to foreign corporations on or before march 1, 1984.—The

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made by subsection (b)(2) [amending this section] shall not apply to property transferred to a foreign corporation on or before March 1, 1984. “(3) Exception for existing indebtedness, etc.—“(A) In general.—The

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made by this section [amending this section and section 170, 368, 514, and 1235 of this title] shall not apply to any amount paid or incurred—“(i) on indebtedness incurred on or before

September 29, 1983, or “(ii) pursuant to a contract which was binding on

September 29, 1983, and at all times thereafter before the amount is paid or incurred. “(B) Treatment of renegotiations, extensions, etc.—If any indebtedness (or contract described in subparagraph (A)) is renegotiated, extended, renewed, or revised after

made by subtitle A or subtitle C of title XI [§§ 1101–1147 and 1171–1177] or title XVIII [§§ 1800–1899A] of Pub. L. 99–514 require an amendment to any plan, such plan amendment shall not be required to be made before the first plan year beginning on or after Jan. 1, 1989, see section 1140 of Pub. L. 99–514, as amended, set out as a note under section 401 of this title. Exception for Certain Indebtedness Pub. L. 99–514, title XVIII, § 1812(c)(5), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2835, provided that: “Clause (i) of section 174(c)(3)(A) of the Tax Reform Act of 1984 [section 174(c)(3)(A)(i) of Pub. L. 98–369, set out as a note above] shall be applied by substituting ‘

December 31, 1983’ for ‘

September 29, 1983’ in the case of indebtedness which matures on

January 1, 1999, the payments on which from January 1989 through November 1993 equal U/L plus $77,600, the payments on which from December 1993 to maturity equal U/L plus $50,100, and which accrued interest at 13.75 percent through

December 31, 1989.”

§267 Losses, expenses, and interest with respect to transactions between related taxpayers

Summary

Title 26, §267

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