Title 26, Internal Revenue CodeRelease 119-102
§442 Change of Annual Accounting Period
Title 26 › Subtitle A — Income Taxes › CHAPTER 1 — NORMAL TAXES AND SURTAXES › Subchapter E — Accounting Periods and Methods of Accounting › PART I — ACCOUNTING PERIODS › § 442
Summary
If a taxpayer switches their annual accounting period, the new period becomes their tax year only if the IRS approves the change. Also, a taxpayer covered by section 441(g) who adopts an annual accounting period other than the calendar year is treated as having changed their annual accounting period (see section 441(c) for the definition).
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
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102