Title 26 — Internal Revenue CodeRelease 119-73
§965 Treatment of Deferred Foreign Income Upon Transition to Participation Exemption System of Taxation
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 › § 965
Summary
When the United States switched to a new system for taxing foreign profits at the end of 2017, Congress imposed a one-time "transition tax" on profits that American-owned foreign companies had piled up overseas and never brought home. For the foreign company's last tax year beginning before January 1, 2018, its U.S. shareholders had to count those stockpiled earnings as income all at once. The amount counted was the company's deferred foreign income built up since 1986, measured on November 2, 2017 or December 31, 2017, whichever was greater. If you owned some foreign companies with profits and others with losses, the losses could offset the profits, and members of the same affiliated group of companies could share unused losses too. The earnings were not taxed at full rates. Shareholders got a special deduction designed so that earnings held as cash or similar liquid assets were taxed at a 15.5 percent rate, and everything else at an 8 percent rate. Because of that discount, part of the foreign tax credit was taken away: no credit was allowed for an "applicable percentage" of the foreign taxes tied to that income. The cash amount was based on the company's cash, receivables, traded securities, foreign currency, and other short-term assets, and the IRS could ignore transactions done mainly to shrink that cash number. Taxpayers did not have to pay all at once. They could elect to spread the tax over 8 yearly installments: 8 percent of the bill in each of the first 5 years, then 15 percent, 20 percent, and 25 percent in the last three years. The remaining balance comes due early if the taxpayer misses a payment, liquidates, sells substantially all its assets, or stops doing business. Shareholders of S corporations got an extra break: they could put off the tax entirely until a triggering event, such as the company losing its S status, selling its assets, or the shareholder transferring the stock. The S corporation is jointly liable for the deferred tax, the shareholder must report the deferred amount every year (with a 5 percent penalty for failing to report it), and the IRS has at least 6 years to assess the tax instead of the usual deadline. A few special rules round it out. Real estate investment trusts could keep the income from disrupting their REIT qualification tests and could elect to spread it over 8 years on the same 8-15-20-25 schedule. Shareholders could elect to keep the income from being soaked up by net operating losses, saving those losses for other years. And if a company that claimed the deduction moved its headquarters abroad in an inversion during the 10 years after the law passed, the deduction was clawed back through an extra tax equal to 35 percent of the deduction, with no credits allowed against it. The main tax event applied only to that 2017-2018 transition year, but the installment, deferral, and clawback rules can still matter today for taxpayers who elected to stretch out or postpone their payments.
Full Legal Text
Title 26, §965
Internal Revenue Code — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)In the case of the last taxable year of a deferred foreign income corporation which begins before January 1, 2018, the subpart F income of such foreign corporation (as otherwise determined for such taxable year under section 952) shall be increased by the greater of—
(1)the accumulated post-1986 deferred foreign income of such corporation determined as of November 2, 2017, or
(2)the accumulated post-1986 deferred foreign income of such corporation determined as of December 31, 2017.
(b)(1)In the case of a taxpayer which is a United States shareholder with respect to at least one deferred foreign income corporation and at least one E&P deficit foreign corporation, the amount which would (but for this subsection) be taken into account under section 951(a)(1) by reason of subsection (a) as such United States shareholder’s pro rata share of the subpart F income of each deferred foreign income corporation shall be reduced by the amount of such United States shareholder’s aggregate foreign E&P deficit which is allocated under paragraph (2) to such deferred foreign income corporation.
(2)The aggregate foreign E&P deficit of any United States shareholder shall be allocated among the deferred foreign income corporations of such United States shareholder in an amount which bears the same proportion to such aggregate as—
(A)such United States shareholder’s pro rata share of the accumulated post-1986 deferred foreign income of each such deferred foreign income corporation, bears to
(B)the aggregate of such United States shareholder’s pro rata share of the accumulated post-1986 deferred foreign income of all deferred foreign income corporations of such United States shareholder.
(3)For purposes of this subsection—
(A)(i)The term “aggregate foreign E&P deficit” means, with respect to any United States shareholder, the lesser of—
(I)the aggregate of such shareholder’s pro rata shares of the specified E&P deficits of the E&P deficit foreign corporations of such shareholder, or
(II)the amount determined under paragraph (2)(B).
(ii)If the amount described in clause (i)(II) is less than the amount described in clause (i)(I), then the shareholder shall designate, in such form and manner as the Secretary determines—
(I)the amount of the specified E&P deficit which is to be taken into account for each E&P deficit corporation with respect to the taxpayer, and
(II)in the case of an E&P deficit corporation which has a qualified deficit (as defined in section 952), the portion (if any) of the deficit taken into account under subclause (I) which is attributable to a qualified deficit, including the qualified activities to which such portion is attributable.
(B)The term “E&P deficit foreign corporation” means, with respect to any taxpayer, any specified foreign corporation with respect to which such taxpayer is a United States shareholder, if, as of November 2, 2017—
(i)such specified foreign corporation has a deficit in post-1986 earnings and profits,
(ii)such corporation was a specified foreign corporation, and
(iii)such taxpayer was a United States shareholder of such corporation.
(C)The term “specified E&P deficit” means, with respect to any E&P deficit foreign corporation, the amount of the deficit referred to in subparagraph (B).
(4)(A)For purposes of applying section 959 in any taxable year beginning with the taxable year described in subsection (a), with respect to any United States shareholder of a deferred foreign income corporation, an amount equal to such shareholder’s reduction under paragraph (1) which is allocated to such deferred foreign income corporation under this subsection shall be treated as an amount which was included in the gross income of such United States shareholder under section 951(a).
(B)For purposes of this title, with respect to any taxable year beginning with the taxable year described in subsection (a), a United States shareholder’s pro rata share of the earnings and profits of any E&P deficit foreign corporation under this subsection shall be increased by the amount of the specified E&P deficit of such corporation taken into account by such shareholder under paragraph (1), and, for purposes of section 952, such increase shall be attributable to the same activity to which the deficit so taken into account was attributable.
(5)(A)In the case of any affiliated group which includes at least one E&P net surplus shareholder and one E&P net deficit shareholder, the amount which would (but for this paragraph) be taken into account under section 951(a)(1) by reason of subsection (a) by each such E&P net surplus shareholder shall be reduced (but not below zero) by such shareholder’s applicable share of the affiliated group’s aggregate unused E&P deficit.
(B)For purposes of this paragraph, the term “E&P net surplus shareholder” means any United States shareholder which would (determined without regard to this paragraph) take into account an amount greater than zero under section 951(a)(1) by reason of subsection (a).
(C)For purposes of this paragraph, the term “E&P net deficit shareholder” means any United States shareholder if—
(i)the aggregate foreign E&P deficit with respect to such shareholder (as defined in paragraph (3)(A) without regard to clause (i)(II) thereof), exceeds
(ii)the amount which would (but for this subsection) be taken into account by such shareholder under section 951(a)(1) by reason of subsection (a).
(D)For purposes of this paragraph—
(i)The term “aggregate unused E&P deficit” means, with respect to any affiliated group, the lesser of—
(I)the sum of the excesses described in subparagraph (C), determined with respect to each E&P net deficit shareholder in such group, or
(II)the amount determined under subparagraph (E)(ii).
(ii)If the group ownership percentage of any E&P net deficit shareholder is less than 100 percent, the amount of the excess described in subparagraph (C) which is taken into account under clause (i)(I) with respect to such E&P net deficit shareholder shall be such group ownership percentage of such amount.
(E)For purposes of this paragraph, the term “applicable share” means, with respect to any E&P net surplus shareholder in any affiliated group, the amount which bears the same proportion to such group’s aggregate unused E&P deficit as—
(i)the product of—
(I)such shareholder’s group ownership percentage, multiplied by
(II)the amount which would (but for this paragraph) be taken into account under section 951(a)(1) by reason of subsection (a) by such shareholder, bears to
(ii)the aggregate amount determined under clause (i) with respect to all E&P net surplus shareholders in such group.
(F)For purposes of this paragraph, the term “group ownership percentage” means, with respect to any United States shareholder in any affiliated group, the percentage of the value of the stock of such United States shareholder which is held by other includible corporations in such affiliated group. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the group ownership percentage of the common parent of the affiliated group is 100 percent. Any term used in this subparagraph which is also used in section 1504 shall have the same meaning as when used in such section.
(c)(1)In the case of a United States shareholder of a deferred foreign income corporation, there shall be allowed as a deduction for the taxable year in which an amount is included in the gross income of such United States shareholder under section 951(a)(1) by reason of this section an amount equal to the sum of—
(A)the United States shareholder’s 8 percent rate equivalent percentage of the excess (if any) of—
(i)the amount so included as gross income, over
(ii)the amount of such United States shareholder’s aggregate foreign cash position, plus
(B)the United States shareholder’s 15.5 percent rate equivalent percentage of so much of the amount described in subparagraph (A)(ii) as does not exceed the amount described in subparagraph (A)(i).
(2)For purposes of this subsection—
(A)The term “8 percent rate equivalent percentage” means, with respect to any United States shareholder for any taxable year, the percentage which would result in the amount to which such percentage applies being subject to a 8 percent rate of tax determined by only taking into account a deduction equal to such percentage of such amount and the highest rate of tax specified in section 11 for such taxable year. In the case of any taxable year of a United States shareholder to which section 15 applies, the highest rate of tax under section 11 before the effective date of the change in rates and the highest rate of tax under section 11 after the effective date of such change shall each be taken into account under the preceding sentence in the same proportions as the portion of such taxable year which is before and after such effective date, respectively.
(B)The term “15.5 percent rate equivalent percentage” means, with respect to any United States shareholder for any taxable year, the percentage determined under subparagraph (A) applied by substituting “15.5 percent rate of tax” for “8 percent rate of tax”.
(3)For purposes of this subsection—
(A)The term “aggregate foreign cash position” means, with respect to any United States shareholder, the greater of—
(i)the aggregate of such United States shareholder’s pro rata share of the cash position of each specified foreign corporation of such United States shareholder determined as of the close of the last taxable year of such specified foreign corporation which begins before January 1, 2018, or
(ii)one half of the sum of—
(I)the aggregate described in clause (i) determined as of the close of the last taxable year of each such specified foreign corporation which ends before November 2, 2017, plus
(II)the aggregate described in clause (i) determined as of the close of the taxable year of each such specified foreign corporation which precedes the taxable year referred to in subclause (I).
(B)For purposes of this paragraph, the cash position of any specified foreign corporation is the sum of—
(i)cash held by such foreign corporation,
(ii)the net accounts receivable of such foreign corporation, plus
(iii)the fair market value of the following assets held by such corporation:
(I)Personal property which is of a type that is actively traded and for which there is an established financial market.
(II)Commercial paper, certificates of deposit, the securities of the Federal government and of any State or foreign government.
(III)Any foreign currency.
(IV)Any obligation with a term of less than one year.
(V)Any asset which the Secretary identifies as being economically equivalent to any asset described in this subparagraph.
(C)For purposes of this paragraph, the term “net accounts receivable” means, with respect to any specified foreign corporation, the excess (if any) of—
(i)such corporation’s accounts receivable, over
(ii)such corporation’s accounts payable (determined consistent with the rules of section 461).
(D)Cash positions of a specified foreign corporation described in clause (ii), (iii)(I), or (iii)(IV) of subparagraph (B) shall not be taken into account by a United States shareholder under subparagraph (A) to the extent that such United States shareholder demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Secretary that such amount is so taken into account by such United States shareholder with respect to another specified foreign corporation.
(E)An entity (other than a corporation) shall be treated as a specified foreign corporation of a United States shareholder for purposes of determining such United States shareholder’s aggregate foreign cash position if any interest in such entity is held by a specified foreign corporation of such United States shareholder (determined after application of this subparagraph) and such entity would be a specified foreign corporation of such United States shareholder if such entity were a foreign corporation.
(F)If the Secretary determines that a principal purpose of any transaction was to reduce the aggregate foreign cash position taken into account under this subsection, such transaction shall be disregarded for purposes of this subsection.
(d)For purposes of this section—
(1)The term “deferred foreign income corporation” means, with respect to any United States shareholder, any specified foreign corporation of such United States shareholder which has accumulated post-1986 deferred foreign income (as of the date referred to in paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (a)) greater than zero.
(2)The term “accumulated post-1986 deferred foreign income” means the post-1986 earnings and profits except to the extent such earnings—
(A)are attributable to income of the specified foreign corporation which is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the United States and subject to tax under this chapter, or
(B)in the case of a controlled foreign corporation, if distributed, would be excluded from the gross income of a United States shareholder under section 959.
(3)The term “post-1986 earnings and profits” means the earnings and profits of the foreign corporation (computed in accordance with section 964(a) and 986, and by only taking into account periods when the foreign corporation was a specified foreign corporation) accumulated in taxable years beginning after December 31, 1986, and determined—
(A)as of the date referred to in paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (a), whichever is applicable with respect to such foreign corporation, and
(B)without diminution by reason of dividends distributed during the taxable year described in subsection (a) other than dividends distributed to another specified foreign corporation.
(e)(1)For purposes of this section, the term “specified foreign corporation” means—
(A)any controlled foreign corporation, and
(B)any foreign corporation with respect to which one or more domestic corporations is a United States shareholder.
(2)For purposes of section 951 and 961, a foreign corporation described in paragraph (1)(B) shall be treated as a controlled foreign corporation solely for purposes of taking into account the subpart F income of such corporation under subsection (a) (and for purposes of applying subsection (f)).
(3)Such term shall not include any corporation which is a passive foreign investment company (as defined in section 1297) with respect to the shareholder and which is not a controlled foreign corporation.
(f)(1)For purposes of this section, the determination of any United States shareholder’s pro rata share of any amount with respect to any specified foreign corporation shall be determined under rules similar to the rules of section 951(a)(2) by treating such amount in the same manner as subpart F income (and by treating such specified foreign corporation as a controlled foreign corporation).
(2)The portion which is included in the income of a United States shareholder under section 951(a)(1) by reason of subsection (a) which is equal to the deduction allowed under subsection (c) by reason of such inclusion—
(A)shall be treated as income exempt from tax for purposes of section 705(a)(1)(B) and 1367(a)(1)(A), and
(B)shall not be treated as income exempt from tax for purposes of determining whether an adjustment shall be made to an accumulated adjustment account under section 1368(e)(1)(A).
(g)(1)No credit shall be allowed under section 901 for the applicable percentage of any taxes paid or accrued (or treated as paid or accrued) with respect to any amount for which a deduction is allowed under this section.
(2)For purposes of this subsection, the term “applicable percentage” means the amount (expressed as a percentage) equal to the sum of—
(A)0.771 multiplied by the ratio of—
(i)the excess to which subsection (c)(1)(A) applies, divided by
(ii)the sum of such excess plus the amount to which subsection (c)(1)(B) applies, plus
(B)0.557 multiplied by the ratio of—
(i)the amount to which subsection (c)(1)(B) applies, divided by
(ii)the sum described in subparagraph (A)(ii).
(3)No deduction shall be allowed under this chapter for any tax for which credit is not allowable under section 901 by reason of paragraph (1) (determined by treating the taxpayer as having elected the benefits of subpart A of part III of subchapter N).
(4)With respect to the taxes treated as paid or accrued by a domestic corporation with respect to amounts which are includible in gross income of such domestic corporation by reason of this section, section 78 shall apply only to so much of such taxes as bears the same proportion to the amount of such taxes as—
(A)the excess of—
(i)the amounts which are includible in gross income of such domestic corporation by reason of this section, over
(ii)the deduction allowable under subsection (c) with respect to such amounts, bears to
(B)such amounts.
(h)(1)In the case of a United States shareholder of a deferred foreign income corporation, such United States shareholder may elect to pay the net tax liability under this section in 8 installments of the following amounts:
(A)8 percent of the net tax liability in the case of each of the first 5 of such installments,
(B)15 percent of the net tax liability in the case of the 6th such installment,
(C)20 percent of the net tax liability in the case of the 7th such installment, and
(D)25 percent of the net tax liability in the case of the 8th such installment.
(2)If an election is made under paragraph (1), the first installment shall be paid on the due date (determined without regard to any extension of time for filing the return) for the return of tax for the taxable year described in subsection (a) and each succeeding installment shall be paid on the due date (as so determined) for the return of tax for the taxable year following the taxable year with respect to which the preceding installment was made.
(3)If there is an addition to tax for failure to timely pay any installment required under this subsection, a liquidation or sale of substantially all the assets of the taxpayer (including in a title 11 or similar case), a cessation of business by the taxpayer, or any similar circumstance, then the unpaid portion of all remaining installments shall be due on the date of such event (or in the case of a title 11 or similar case, the day before the petition is filed). The preceding sentence shall not apply to the sale of substantially all the assets of a taxpayer to a buyer if such buyer enters into an agreement with the Secretary under which such buyer is liable for the remaining installments due under this subsection in the same manner as if such buyer were the taxpayer.
(4)If an election is made under paragraph (1) to pay the net tax liability under this section in installments and a deficiency has been assessed with respect to such net tax liability, the deficiency shall be prorated to the installments payable under paragraph (1). The part of the deficiency so prorated to any installment the date for payment of which has not arrived shall be collected at the same time as, and as a part of, such installment. The part of the deficiency so prorated to any installment the date for payment of which has arrived shall be paid upon notice and demand from the Secretary. This subsection shall not apply if the deficiency is due to negligence, to intentional disregard of rules and regulations, or to fraud with intent to evade tax.
(5)Any election under paragraph (1) shall be made not later than the due date for the return of tax for the taxable year described in subsection (a) and shall be made in such manner as the Secretary shall provide.
(6)For purposes of this subsection—
(A)The net tax liability under this section with respect to any United States shareholder is the excess (if any) of—
(i)such taxpayer’s net income tax for the taxable year in which an amount is included in the gross income of such United States shareholder under section 951(a)(1) by reason of this section, over
(ii)such taxpayer’s net income tax for such taxable year determined—
(I)without regard to this section, and
(II)without regard to any income or deduction properly attributable to a dividend received by such United States shareholder from any deferred foreign income corporation.
(B)The term “net income tax” means the regular tax liability reduced by the credits allowed under subparts A, B, and D of part IV of subchapter A.
(i)(1)In the case of any S corporation which is a United States shareholder of a deferred foreign income corporation, each shareholder of such S corporation may elect to defer payment of such shareholder’s net tax liability under this section with respect to such S corporation until the shareholder’s taxable year which includes the triggering event with respect to such liability. Any net tax liability payment of which is deferred under the preceding sentence shall be assessed on the return of tax as an addition to tax in the shareholder’s taxable year which includes such triggering event.
(2)(A)In the case of any shareholder’s net tax liability under this section with respect to any S corporation, the triggering event with respect to such liability is whichever of the following occurs first:
(i)Such corporation ceases to be an S corporation (determined as of the first day of the first taxable year that such corporation is not an S corporation).
(ii)A liquidation or sale of substantially all the assets of such S corporation (including in a title 11 or similar case), a cessation of business by such S corporation, such S corporation ceases to exist, or any similar circumstance.
(iii)A transfer of any share of stock in such S corporation by the taxpayer (including by reason of death, or otherwise).
(B)In the case of a transfer of less than all of the taxpayer’s shares of stock in the S corporation, such transfer shall only be a triggering event with respect to so much of the taxpayer’s net tax liability under this section with respect to such S corporation as is properly allocable to such stock.
(C)A transfer described in clause (iii) of subparagraph (A) shall not be treated as a triggering event if the transferee enters into an agreement with the Secretary under which such transferee is liable for net tax liability with respect to such stock in the same manner as if such transferee were the taxpayer.
(3)A shareholder’s net tax liability under this section with respect to any S corporation is the net tax liability under this section which would be determined under subsection (h)(6) if the only subpart F income taken into account by such shareholder by reason of this section were allocations from such S corporation.
(4)In the case of a taxpayer which elects to defer payment under paragraph (1)—
(A)subsection (h) shall be applied separately with respect to the liability to which such election applies,
(B)an election under subsection (h) with respect to such liability shall be treated as timely made if made not later than the due date for the return of tax for the taxable year in which the triggering event with respect to such liability occurs,
(C)the first installment under subsection (h) with respect to such liability shall be paid not later than such due date (but determined without regard to any extension of time for filing the return), and
(D)if the triggering event with respect to any net tax liability is described in paragraph (2)(A)(ii), an election under subsection (h) with respect to such liability may be made only with the consent of the Secretary.
(5)If any shareholder of an S corporation elects to defer payment under paragraph (1), such S corporation shall be jointly and severally liable for such payment and any penalty, addition to tax, or additional amount attributable thereto.
(6)Any limitation on the time period for the collection of a liability deferred under this subsection shall not be treated as beginning before the date of the triggering event with respect to such liability.
(7)(A)Any shareholder of an S corporation which makes an election under paragraph (1) shall report the amount of such shareholder’s deferred net tax liability on such shareholder’s return of tax for the taxable year for which such election is made and on the return of tax for each taxable year thereafter until such amount has been fully assessed on such returns.
(B)For purposes of this paragraph, the term “deferred net tax liability” means, with respect to any taxable year, the amount of net tax liability payment of which has been deferred under paragraph (1) and which has not been assessed on a return of tax for any prior taxable year.
(C)In the case of any failure to report any amount required to be reported under subparagraph (A) with respect to any taxable year before the due date for the return of tax for such taxable year, there shall be assessed on such return as an addition to tax 5 percent of such amount.
(8)Any election under paragraph (1)—
(A)shall be made by the shareholder of the S corporation not later than the due date for such shareholder’s return of tax for the taxable year which includes the close of the taxable year of such S corporation in which the amount described in subsection (a) is taken into account, and
(B)shall be made in such manner as the Secretary shall provide.
(j)Each S corporation which is a United States shareholder of a specified foreign corporation shall report in its return of tax under section 6037(a) the amount includible in its gross income for such taxable year by reason of this section and the amount of the deduction allowable by subsection (c). Any copy provided to a shareholder under section 6037(b) shall include a statement of such shareholder’s pro rata share of such amounts.
(k)Notwithstanding section 6501, the limitation on the time period for the assessment of the net tax liability under this section (as defined in subsection (h)(6)) shall not expire before the date that is 6 years after the return for the taxable year described in such subsection was filed.
(l)(1)If a deduction is allowed under subsection (c) to a United States shareholder and such shareholder first becomes an expatriated entity at any time during the 10-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act 11 See References in Text note below. (with respect to a surrogate foreign corporation which first becomes a surrogate foreign corporation during such period), then—
(A)the tax imposed by this chapter shall be increased for the first taxable year in which such taxpayer becomes an expatriated entity by an amount equal to 35 percent of the amount of the deduction allowed under subsection (c), and
(B)no credits shall be allowed against the increase in tax under subparagraph (A).
(2)For purposes of this subsection, the term “expatriated entity” has the same meaning given such term under section 7874(a)(2), except that such term shall not include an entity if the surrogate foreign corporation with respect to the entity is treated as a domestic corporation under section 7874(b).
(3)For purposes of this subsection, the term “surrogate foreign corporation” has the meaning given such term in section 7874(a)(2)(B).
(m)(1)If a real estate investment trust is a United States shareholder in 1 or more deferred foreign income corporations—
(A)any amount required to be taken into account under section 951(a)(1) by reason of this section shall not be taken into account as gross income of the real estate investment trust for purposes of applying paragraphs (2) and (3) of section 856(c) to any taxable year for which such amount is taken into account under section 951(a)(1), and
(B)if the real estate investment trust elects the application of this subparagraph, notwithstanding subsection (a), any amount required to be taken into account under section 951(a)(1) by reason of this section shall, in lieu of the taxable year in which it would otherwise be included in gross income (for purposes of the computation of real estate investment trust taxable income under section 857(b)), be included in gross income as follows:
(i)8 percent of such amount in the case of each of the taxable years in the 5-taxable year period beginning with the taxable year in which such amount would otherwise be included.
(ii)15 percent of such amount in the case of the 1st taxable year following such period.
(iii)20 percent of such amount in the case of the 2nd taxable year following such period.
(iv)25 percent of such amount in the case of the 3rd taxable year following such period.
(2)(A)Any election under paragraph (1)(B) shall be made not later than the due date for the first taxable year in the 5-taxable year period described in clause (i) of paragraph (1)(B) and shall be made in such manner as the Secretary shall provide.
(B)If an election under paragraph (1)(B) is in effect with respect to any real estate investment trust, the following rules shall apply:
(i)For purposes of subsection (c)(1)—
(I)the aggregate amount to which subparagraph (A) or (B) of subsection (c)(1) applies shall be determined without regard to the election,
(II)each such aggregate amount shall be allocated to each taxable year described in paragraph (1)(B) in the same proportion as the amount included in the gross income of such United States shareholder under section 951(a)(1) by reason of this section is allocated to each such taxable year.
(III)The real estate investment trust may not make an election under subsection (g) for any taxable year described in paragraph (1)(B).
(ii)If there is a liquidation or sale of substantially all the assets of the real estate investment trust (including in a title 11 or similar case), a cessation of business by such trust, or any similar circumstance, then any amount not yet included in gross income under paragraph (1)(B) shall be included in gross income as of the day before the date of the event and the unpaid portion of any tax liability with respect to such inclusion shall be due on the date of such event (or in the case of a title 11 or similar case, the day before the petition is filed).
(n)(1)If a United States shareholder of a deferred foreign income corporation elects the application of this subsection for the taxable year described in subsection (a), then the amount described in paragraph (2) shall not be taken into account—
(A)in determining the amount of the net operating loss deduction under section 172 of such shareholder for such taxable year, or
(B)in determining the amount of taxable income for such taxable year which may be reduced by net operating loss carryovers or carrybacks to such taxable year under section 172.
(2)The amount described in this paragraph is the sum of—
(A)the amount required to be taken into account under section 951(a)(1) by reason of this section (determined after the application of subsection (c)), plus
(B)in the case of a domestic corporation which chooses to have the benefits of subpart A of part III of subchapter N for the taxable year, the taxes deemed to be paid by such corporation under subsections (a) and (b) of section 960 for such taxable year with respect to the amount described in subparagraph (A) which are treated as a dividends 22 So in original. under section 78.
(3)Any election under this subsection shall be made not later than the due date (including extensions) for filing the return of tax for the taxable year and shall be made in such manner as the Secretary shall prescribe.
(o)The Secretary shall prescribe such regulations or other guidance as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the provisions of this section, including—
(1)regulations or other guidance to provide appropriate basis adjustments, and
(2)regulations or other guidance to prevent the avoidance of the purposes of this section, including through a reduction in earnings and profits, through changes in entity classification or accounting methods, or otherwise.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The date of the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, referred to in subsec. (l)(1), probably means the date of the enactment of title I of Pub. L. 115–97, which was approved Dec. 22, 2017. Prior versions of the bill that was enacted into law as Pub. L. 115–97 included such
Short Title
, but it was not enacted as part of title I of Pub. L. 115–97.
Amendments
2017—Pub. L. 115–97 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section related to temporary dividends received deduction. 2005—Subsec. (a)(2)(B). Pub. L. 109–135, § 403(q)(1), inserted “from another controlled foreign corporation in such chain of ownership” before “, but only to the extent”. Subsec. (b)(2)(A). Pub. L. 109–135, § 403(q)(2), inserted “cash” before “dividends”. Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 109–135, § 403(q)(3), inserted at end “The Secretary may prescribe such
Regulations
as may be necessary or appropriate to prevent the avoidance of the purposes of this paragraph, including
Regulations
which provide that cash dividends shall not be taken into account under subsection (a) to the extent such dividends are attributable to the direct or indirect transfer (including through the use of intervening entities or capital contributions) of cash or other property from a related person (as so defined) to a controlled foreign corporation.” Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 109–135, § 403(q)(4), reenacted heading without change and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The term ‘applicable financial statement’ means, with respect to a United States shareholder, the most recently audited financial statement (including notes and other documents which accompany such statement) which includes such shareholder— “(A) which is certified on or before
June 30, 2003, as being prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and “(B) which is used for the purposes of a statement or report— “(i) to creditors, “(ii) to shareholders, or “(iii) for any other substantial nontax purpose. In the case of a corporation required to file a financial statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission, such term means the most recent such statement filed on or before
June 30, 2003.” Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 109–135, § 403(q)(5), substituted “directly allocable” for “properly allocated and apportioned”. Subsec. (d)(4). Pub. L. 109–135, § 403(q)(6), added par. (4). Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 109–135, § 403(q)(7), inserted “which are imposed by foreign countries and possessions of the United States and are” after “taxes” in concluding provisions. Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 109–135, § 403(q)(8), inserted “on or” before “before the due date” in concluding provisions.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 2005 Amendment
Amendments
by Pub. L. 109–135 effective as if included in the provisions of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, Pub. L. 108–357, to which they relate, see section 403(nn) of Pub. L. 109–135, set out as a note under section 26 of this title.
Effective Date
Section applicable to taxable years ending on or after Oct. 22, 2004, see section 422(d) of Pub. L. 108–357, set out as an
Effective Date
of 2004
Amendments
note under section 56 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
26 U.S.C. § 965
Title 26 — Internal Revenue Code
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73