Title 26 — Internal Revenue CodeRelease 119-73
§535 Accumulated taxable income
Title 26 › Subtitle Subtitle A— - Income Taxes › Chapter CHAPTER 1— - NORMAL TAXES AND SURTAXES › Subchapter Subchapter G— - Corporations Used to Avoid Income Tax on Shareholders › Part PART I— - CORPORATIONS IMPROPERLY ACCUMULATING SURPLUS › § 535
Summary
To figure a corporation’s accumulated taxable income, start with its taxable income after a set of adjustments, then subtract the dividends-paid deduction and the accumulated earnings credit. The allowed adjustments include some tax and charity deductions, but not the special corporate deductions like the dividends-received deduction or the net operating loss carryforward. There are special rules for capital gains and losses, for holding or investment companies, for foreign corporations (only U.S.-connected gains count), and you can deduct amounts a U.S. shareholder must include under the foreign‑income rules (see section 951(a)). The accumulated earnings credit is a simple safety amount to let a company keep money it reasonably needs for its business, minus the deduction for net capital gain. For most firms the credit can never be less than $250,000 minus the company’s accumulated earnings at the end of the prior year. For firms whose main work is health, law, engineering, architecture, accounting, actuarial science, performing arts, or consulting, use $150,000 instead. For mere holding or investment companies the credit is the amount (if any) by which $250,000 exceeds prior accumulated earnings. If 10 percent or more of a foreign corporation’s earnings are from U.S. sources or tied to a U.S. trade or business, the rules in the law treat that status specially; the phrase “United States‑owned foreign corporation” is defined in section 904(h)(6).
Full Legal Text
Title 26, §535
Internal Revenue Code — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)For purposes of this subtitle, the term “accumulated taxable income” means the taxable income, adjusted in the manner provided in subsection (b), minus the sum of the dividends paid deduction (as defined in section 561) and the accumulated earnings credit (as defined in subsection (c)).
(b)For purposes of subsection (a), taxable income shall be adjusted as follows:
(1)There shall be allowed as a deduction Federal income and excess profits taxes and income, war profits, and excess profits taxes of foreign countries and possessions of the United States (to the extent not allowable as a deduction under section 275(a)(4)), accrued during the taxable year or deemed to be paid by a domestic corporation under section 960 for the taxable year, but not including the accumulated earnings tax imposed by section 531 or the personal holding company tax imposed by section 541.
(2)The deduction for charitable contributions provided under section 170 shall be allowed without regard to section 170(b)(2).
(3)The special deductions for corporations provided in part VIII (except section 248) of subchapter B (section 241 and following, relating to the deduction for dividends received by corporations, etc.) shall not be allowed.
(4)The net operating loss deduction provided in section 172 shall not be allowed.
(5)(A)Except as provided in subparagraph (B), there shall be allowed as a deduction an amount equal to the net capital loss for the taxable year (determined without regard to paragraph (7)(A)).
(B)The aggregate amount allowable as a deduction under subparagraph (A) for any taxable year shall be reduced by the lesser of—
(i)the nonrecaptured capital gains deductions, or
(ii)the amount of the accumulated earnings and profits of the corporation as of the close of the preceding taxable year.
(C)For purposes of subparagraph (B), the term “nonrecaptured capital gains deductions” means the excess of—
(i)the aggregate amount allowable as a deduction under paragraph (6) for preceding taxable years beginning after July 18, 1984, over
(ii)the aggregate of the reductions under subparagraph (B) for preceding taxable years.
(6)(A)There shall be allowed as a deduction—
(i)the net capital gain for the taxable year (determined with the application of paragraph (7)), reduced by
(ii)the taxes attributable to such net capital gain.
(B)For purposes of subparagraph (A), the taxes attributable to the net capital gain shall be an amount equal to the difference between—
(i)the taxes imposed by this subtitle (except the tax imposed by this part) for the taxable year, and
(ii)such taxes computed for such year without including in taxable income the net capital gain for the taxable year (determined without the application of paragraph (7)).
(7)(A)The net capital loss for any taxable year shall be treated as a short-term capital loss in the next taxable year.
(B)No allowance shall be made for the capital loss carryback or carryforward provided in section 1212.
(8)In the case of a mere holding or investment company—
(A)Paragraphs (5) and (7)(A) shall not apply.
(B)There shall be allowed as a deduction the net short-term capital gain for the taxable year to the extent such gain does not exceed the amount of any capital loss carryover to such taxable year under section 1212 (determined without regard to paragraph (7)(B)).
(C)For purposes of subchapter C, the accumulated earnings and profits at any time shall not be less than they would be if this subsection had applied to the computation of earnings and profits for all taxable years beginning after July 18, 1984.
(9)In the case of a foreign corporation, paragraph (6) shall be applied by taking into account only gains and losses which are effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the United States and are not exempt from tax under treaty.
(10)There shall be allowed as a deduction the amount of the corporation’s income for the taxable year which is included in the gross income of a United States shareholder under section 951(a). In the case of any corporation the accumulated taxable income of which would (but for this sentence) be determined without allowance of any deductions, the deduction under this paragraph shall be allowed and shall be appropriately adjusted to take into account any deductions which reduced such inclusion.
(c)(1)For purposes of subsection (a), in the case of a corporation other than a mere holding or investment company the accumulated earnings credit is (A) an amount equal to such part of the earnings and profits for the taxable year as are retained for the reasonable needs of the business, minus (B) the deduction allowed by subsection (b)(6). For purposes of this paragraph, the amount of the earnings and profits for the taxable year which are retained is the amount by which the earnings and profits for the taxable year exceed the dividends paid deduction (as defined in section 561) for such year.
(2)(A)The credit allowable under paragraph (1) shall in no case be less than the amount by which $250,000 exceeds the accumulated earnings and profits of the corporation at the close of the preceding taxable year.
(B)In the case of a corporation the principal function of which is the performance of services in the field of health, law, engineering, architecture, accounting, actuarial science, performing arts, or consulting, subparagraph (A) shall be applied by substituting “$150,000” for “$250,000”.
(3)In the case of a corporation which is a mere holding or investment company, the accumulated earnings credit is the amount (if any) by which $250,000 exceeds the accumulated earnings and profits of the corporation at the close of the preceding taxable year.
(4)For purposes of paragraphs (2) and (3), the accumulated earnings and profits at the close of the preceding taxable year shall be reduced by the dividends which under section 563(a) (relating to dividends paid after the close of the taxable year) are considered as paid during such taxable year.
(5)For limitation on credit provided in paragraph (2) or (3) in the case of certain controlled corporations, see section 1561.
(d)(1)For purposes of this part, if 10 percent or more of the earnings and profits of any foreign corporation for any taxable year—
(A)is derived from sources within the United States, or
(B)is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the United States,
(2)The term “United States-owned foreign corporation” has the meaning given to such term by section 904(h)(6).
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2017—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 115–97, § 14301(c)(4), substituted “section 960” for “section 902(a) or 960(a)(1)”. Subsec. (c)(5). Pub. L. 115–97, § 13001(b)(5)(B), amended par. (5) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “For denial of credit provided in paragraph (2) or (3) where multiple corporations are formed to avoid tax, see section 1551, and for limitation on such credit in the case of certain controlled corporations, see section 1561.” 2014—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 113–295 substituted “section 531 or the personal holding company tax imposed by section 541.” for “section 531, the personal holding company tax imposed by section 541, or the taxes imposed by corresponding sections of a prior income tax law.” 2005—Subsec. (b)(10). Pub. L. 109–135 added par. (10). 2004—Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 108–357 substituted “section 904(h)(6)” for “section 904(g)(6)”. 1990—Subsec. (c)(5). Pub. L. 101–508 substituted “section 1561” for “section 1561 and 1564”. 1986—Subsec. (b)(5)(C)(i), (8)(C). Pub. L. 99–514, § 1899A(17), substituted “
July 18, 1984” for “the date of the enactment of the Tax Reform Act of 1984”. Subsec. (b)(9). Pub. L. 99–514, § 1225(a), added par. (9). 1984—Subsec. (b)(5). Pub. L. 98–369, § 58(b), designated existing provisions as subpar. (A), substituted “Except as provided in subparagraph (B), there shall be allowed as a deduction an amount equal to the net capital loss for the taxable year (determined without regard to paragraph (7)(A)” for “There shall be allowed as deductions losses from sales or exchanges of capital assets during the taxable year which are disallowed as deductions under section 1211(a)” in subpar. (A) as so redesignated, and added subpars. (B) and (C). Subsec. (b)(6). Pub. L. 98–369, § 58(b), divided existing par. (6) into subpars. (A) and (B) and substituted references to the application of paragraph (7) for references to capital loss carryback and carryover provided in section 1212. Subsec. (b)(7). Pub. L. 98–369, § 58(b), substituted “Capital loss carryovers” for “Capital loss” in heading, redesignated existing provisions as subpar. (B), and added subpar. (A). Subsec. (b)(8). Pub. L. 98–369, § 58(b), added par. (8). Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 98–369, § 125(a), added subsec. (d). 1981—Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 97–34, § 232(a), designated existing provisions as subpar. (A), substituted “$250,000” for “$150,000”, and added subpar. (B). Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 97–34, § 232(b)(1), substituted “$250,000” for “$150,000”. 1976—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 94–455, §§ 1033(b)(3), 1901(a)(74), struck out “(other than the excess profits tax imposed by subchapter E of chapter 2 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1939 for taxable years beginning after
December 31, 1940)” after “income and excess profits taxes”, and substituted “section 902(a) or 960(a)(1)” for “section 902(a)(1) or 960(a)(1)(C)” after “domestic corporation under”. Subsec. (b)(6). Pub. L. 94–455, § 1901(b)(33)(D), substituted “Net” for “Long-term” after “(6)”. Subsec. (b)(8). Pub. L. 94–455, § 1901(b)(20)(A), struck out par. (8) relating to allowance of deduction by bank affiliates. Subsec. (b)(9), (10). Pub. L. 94–455, § 1901(b)(32)(C), struck out par. (9) relating to allowance of deduction for distributions of divested stock, and struck out par. (10) relating to special adjustment on disposition of antitrust stock received as a dividend. 1975—Subsec. (c)(2), (3). Pub. L. 94–12 substituted “$150,000” for “$100,000”. 1969—Subsec. (b)(6). Pub. L. 91–172, § 512(f)(5), substituted “capital loss carryback or carryover” for “capital loss carryover” and “capital loss carryback and carryover” for “capital loss carryover” in subpar. (B). Subsec. (b)(7). Pub. L. 91–172, § 512(f)(6), substituted “Capital loss” for “Capital loss carryover” in heading and “capital loss carryback or carryover” for “capital loss carryover” in text. Subsec. (c)(5). Pub. L. 91–172, § 401(b)(2)(C), substituted “section 1551, and for limitation on such credit in the case of certain controlled corporations, see section 1561 and 1564” for “section 1551”. 1964—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 88–272 substituted “section 275(a)(4)” for “section 164(b)(6)”. 1962—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 87–834 substituted “accrued during the taxable year or deemed to be paid by a domestic corporation under section 902(a)(1) or 960(a)(1)(C) for the taxable year” for “accrued during the taxable year”. Subsec. (b)(9), (10). Pub. L. 87–403 added pars. (9) and (10). 1958—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 85–866, § 31(a), struck out “the limitation in” after “without regard to”. Subsec. (b)(6)(B). Pub. L. 85–866, § 31(a), substituted “in taxable income the excess of the net long-term capital gain for the taxable year over the net short-term capital loss for such year (determined without regard to the capital loss carryover provided in section 1212)” for “such excess in taxable income”. Subsec. (c)(2), (3). Pub. L. 85–866, § 205(a), substituted “$100,000” for “$60,000”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 2017 AmendmentAmendment by section 13001(b)(5)(B) of Pub. L. 115–97 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 2017, see section 13001(c)(1) of Pub. L. 115–97, set out as a note under section 11 of this title. Amendment by section 14301(c)(4) of Pub. L. 115–97 applicable to taxable years of foreign corporations beginning after Dec. 31, 2017, and to taxable years of United States shareholders in which or with which such taxable years of foreign corporations end, see section 14301(d) of Pub. L. 115–97, set out as a note under section 78 of this title.
Effective Date
of 2014 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 113–295 effective Dec. 19, 2014, subject to a
Savings Provision
, see section 221(b) of Pub. L. 113–295, set out as a note under section 1 of this title.
Effective Date
of 2005 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 109–135 effective as if included in the provision of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, Pub. L. 108–357, to which such amendment relates, see section 403(nn) of Pub. L. 109–135, set out as a note under section 26 of this title.
Effective Date
of 2004 Amendment Pub. L. 108–357, title IV, § 402(c), Oct. 22, 2004, 118 Stat. 1492, provided that: “The
Amendments
made by this section [amending this section and section 904 and 936 of this title] shall apply to losses for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2006.”
Effective Date
of 1986 Amendment Pub. L. 99–514, title XII, § 1225(c), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2559, as amended by Pub. L. 100–647, title I, § 1012(k), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3513, provided that: “The
Amendments
made by this section [amending this section and section 545 of this title] shall apply to gains and losses realized on or after January 1, 1986.”
Effective Date
of 1984 AmendmentAmendment by section 58(b) of Pub. L. 98–369 applicable to taxable years beginning after
July 18, 1984, see section 58(c) of Pub. L. 98–369, set out as a note under section 532 of this title. Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title I, § 125(b),
July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 647, as amended by Pub. L. 99–514, § 2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2095, provided that: “(1) In general.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), the amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply to distributions and interest payments received by a United States-owned foreign corporation (within the meaning of section 535(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [formerly I.R.C. 1954]) on or after
May 23, 1983, in taxable years ending on or after such date. “(2) Corporations in existence on may 23, 1983.—In the case of a United States-owned foreign corporation (as so defined) in existence on
May 23, 1983, the amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply to taxable years beginning after
December 31, 1984.”
Effective Date
of 1981 Amendment Pub. L. 97–34, title II, § 232(c), Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 250, provided that: “The
Amendments
made by this section [amending this section and section 243, 1551, and 1561 of this title] shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1981.”
Effective Date
of 1976 AmendmentFor
Effective Date
of amendment by section 1033(b)(3) of Pub. L. 94–455, see section 1033(c) of Pub. L. 94–455, set out as a note under section 960 of this title. Amendment by section 1901(a)(74), (b)(20)(A), (32)(C), (33)(D) of Pub. L. 94–455 applicable with respect to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1976, see section 1901(d) of Pub. L. 94–455, set out as a note under section 2 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1975 Amendment Pub. L. 94–12, title III, § 305(c), Mar. 29, 1975, 89 Stat. 45, provided that: “The
Amendments
made by section 304 [amending this section and section 243, 1551, and 1561 of this title] apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1974.”
Effective Date
of 1969 AmendmentAmendment by section 401(b)(2)(C) of Pub. L. 91–172 applicable with respect to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1969, see section 401(h)(2) of Pub. L. 91–172, set out as a note under section 1561 of this title. Amendment by section 512(f)(5), (6) of Pub. L. 91–172 applicable with respect to net capital losses sustained in taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1969, see section 512(g) of Pub. L. 91–172, set out as a note under section 1212 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1964 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 88–272 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1963, see section 207(c) of Pub. L. 88–272, set out as a note under section 164 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1962
Amendments
Amendment by Pub. L. 87–834 applicable in respect of any distribution received by a domestic corporation after Dec. 31, 1964, and in respect of any distribution received by a domestic corporation before Jan. 1, 1965, in a taxable year of such corporation beginning after Dec. 31, 1962, but only to the extent that such distribution is made out of the accumulated profits of a foreign corporation for a taxable year (of such foreign corporation) beginning after Dec. 31, 1962, see section 9(e) of Pub. L. 87–834, set out as an
Effective Date
note under section 78 of this title. Amendment by Pub. L. 87–403 applicable only with respect to distributions made after Feb. 2, 1962, see section 3(g) of Pub. L. 87–403, set out as a note under section 312 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1958 AmendmentAmendment by section 31 of Pub. L. 85–866 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1953, and ending after Aug. 16, 1954, see section 1(c)(1) of Pub. L. 85–866, set out as a note under section 165 of this title. Pub. L. 85–866, title II, § 205(b), Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1680, provided that: “The
Amendments
made by subsection (a) [amending this section and section 1551 of this title] shall apply with respect to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1957.”
Savings Provision
For provisions that nothing in amendment by Pub. L. 101–508 be construed to affect treatment of certain transactions occurring, property acquired, or items of income, loss, deduction, or credit taken into account prior to Nov. 5, 1990, for purposes of determining liability for tax for periods ending after Nov. 5, 1990, see section 11821(b) of Pub. L. 101–508, set out as a note under section 45K of this title. Plan
Amendments
Not Required Until January 1, 1989For provisions directing that if any
Amendments
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.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
26 U.S.C. § 535
Title 26 — Internal Revenue Code
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73