Title 26Internal Revenue CodeRelease 119-73

§561 Definition of deduction for dividends paid

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 IV— - DEDUCTION FOR DIVIDENDS PAID › § 561

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The dividend deduction equals three items: dividends paid in the tax year; consent dividends (as determined under section 565); and, for personal holding companies, the dividend carryover in section 564. The rules in sections 562 and 563 also apply when figuring the deduction.

Full Legal Text

Title 26, §561

Internal Revenue Code — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The deduction for dividends paid shall be the sum of—
(1)the dividends paid during the taxable year,
(2)the consent dividends for the taxable year (determined under section 565), and
(3)in the case of a personal holding company, the dividend carryover described in section 564.
(b)In determining the deduction for dividends paid, the rules provided in section 562 (relating to rules applicable in determining dividends eligible for dividends paid deduction) and section 563 (relating to dividends paid after the close of the taxable year) shall be applicable.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1976—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 94–455 redesignated existing provisions of par. (1) as subsec. (b) and struck out par. (2) relating to special adjustment on disposition of antitrust stock as a dividend. 1962—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 87–403 designated existing provisions as par. (1) and added par. (2).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1976 AmendmentAmendment by 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 1962 AmendmentAmendment 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.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

26 U.S.C. § 561

Title 26Internal Revenue Code

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73