Title 26 — Internal Revenue CodeRelease 119-73
§962 Election by Individuals to Be Subject to Tax at Corporate Rates
Title 26 › Subtitle Subtitle A— Income Taxes › Chapter 1— NORMAL TAXES AND SURTAXES › Subchapter N— Tax Based on Income From Sources Within or Without the United States › Part III— INCOME FROM SOURCES WITHOUT THE UNITED STATES › Subpart F— Controlled Foreign Corporations › § 962
Summary
If you are an individual who owns a big enough stake in a foreign corporation that you must report its income on your U.S. return, you can elect to have that income taxed at the corporate tax rate instead of your personal rate. Making the election also lets you claim the foreign tax credit for taxes the foreign corporation paid, just as a U.S. corporation could. Once made for a year, the election cannot be undone without IRS consent. There is a trade-off later. When the foreign corporation actually pays out those earnings to you, the payout is taxed again to the extent it exceeds the tax you already paid under the election.
Full Legal Text
Title 26, §962
Internal Revenue Code — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, in the case of a United States shareholder who is an individual and who elects to have the provisions of this section apply for the taxable year—
(1)the tax imposed under this chapter on amounts which are included in his gross income under section 951(a) shall (in lieu of the tax determined under section 1 and 55) be an amount equal to the tax which would be imposed under section 11 if such amounts were received by a domestic corporation, and
(2)for purposes of applying the provisions of section 960 11 See References in Text note below. (relating to foreign tax credit) such amounts shall be treated as if they were received by a domestic corporation.
(b)An election to have the provisions of this section apply for any taxable year shall be made by a United States shareholder at such time and in such manner as the Secretary shall prescribe by regulations. An election made for any taxable year may not be revoked except with the consent of the Secretary.
(c)For purposes of applying subsection (a)(1), the amount in each taxable income bracket in the tax table in section 11(b) shall not exceed an amount which bears the same ratio to such bracket amount as the amount included in the gross income of the United States shareholder under section 951(a) for the taxable year bears to such shareholder’s pro rata share of the earnings and profits for the taxable year of all controlled foreign corporations with respect to which such shareholder includes any amount in gross income under section 951(a).
(d)The earnings and profits of a foreign corporation attributable to amounts which were included in the gross income of a United States shareholder under section 951(a) and with respect to which an election under this section applied shall, when such earnings and profits are distributed, notwithstanding the provisions of section 959(a)(1), be included in gross income to the extent that such earnings and profits so distributed exceed the amount of tax paid under this chapter on the amounts to which such election applied.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
section 960, referred to in subsec. (a)(2), was amended extensively by Pub. L. 115–97, and, as so amended, relates to deemed paid credit for subpart F inclusions.
Amendments
2017—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 115–97 substituted “section 11” for “section 11 and 55”. 1988—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 100–647 substituted “section 1 and 55” and “section 11 and 55” for “section 1” and “section 11”, respectively. 1978—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 95–600 substituted provisions relating to the pro ration of each section 11 bracket amount for provisions relating to the surtax exemption. 1976—Subsecs. (a), (b). Pub. L. 94–455 struck out “or his delegate” after “Secretary” wherever appearing. 1975—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 94–164 substituted “same ratio to the surtax exemption” for “same ratio to $25,000” in subsec. (c) as such subsec. (c) is in effect for taxable years ending after Dec. 31, 1975. Pub. L. 94–12 substituted “$50,000” for “$25,000”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 2017 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 115–97 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 2017, see section 12001(c) of Pub. L. 115–97, set out as a note under section 11 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1988 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 100–647 effective, except as otherwise provided, as if included in the provision of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, Pub. L. 99–514, to which such amendment relates, see section 1019(a) of Pub. L. 100–647, set out as a note under section 1 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1978 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 95–600 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1978, see section 301(c) of Pub. L. 95–600, set out as a note under section 11 of this title. Effective and Termination Dates of 1975
Amendments
Amendment by Pub. L. 94–164 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1975, see section 4(e) of Pub. L. 94–164, set out as a note under section 11 of this title. Amendment by Pub. L. 94–12 applicable to taxable years ending after Dec. 31, 1974, but to cease to apply for taxable years ending after Dec. 31, 1975, see section 305(b)(1) of Pub. L. 94–12, set out as a note under section 11 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
26 U.S.C. § 962
Title 26 — Internal Revenue Code
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73