Title 26 — Internal Revenue CodeRelease 119-73

§442 Change of Annual Accounting Period

Title 26 › Subtitle Subtitle A— Income Taxes › Chapter 1— NORMAL TAXES AND SURTAXES › Subchapter E— Accounting Periods and Methods of Accounting › Part I— ACCOUNTING PERIODS › § 442

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

If you want to change your tax year, the new period only counts if the government approves the change. Certain taxpayers who must use a calendar year are treated as changing their accounting period if they adopt a different one.

Full Legal Text

Title 26, §442

Internal Revenue Code — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

If a taxpayer changes his annual accounting period, the new accounting period shall become the taxpayer’s taxable year only if the change is approved by the Secretary. For purposes of this subtitle, if a taxpayer to whom section 441(g) applies adopts an annual accounting period (as defined in section 441(c)) other than a calendar year, the taxpayer shall be treated as having changed his annual accounting period.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1976—Pub. L. 94–455 struck out “or his delegate” after “Secretary”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

26 U.S.C. § 442

Title 26 — Internal Revenue Code

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73