Title 26, Internal Revenue CodeRelease 119-110
§993 Definitions and Special Rules
Title 26 › 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 IV — DOMESTIC INTERNATIONAL SALES CORPORATIONS › Subpart A — Treatment of Qualifying Corporations › § 993
Summary
Defines what counts as a DISC’s export receipts and export assets for tax rules. Qualified export receipts are mostly money a company gets from selling, leasing, or renting export goods, and from services tied to those export transactions. It also covers dividends or certain income from a related foreign export company, interest on export-related debt, engineering or architectural work for projects outside the United States, and managerial services that help produce export receipts. The Treasury Secretary can say some receipts do not count if the goods or services are really for use in the United States, are paid for by a U.S. subsidy, or are required to be used by the U.S. government. Receipts of a DISC that is in the same controlled group as the buyer are not qualified. “Controlled group” means the usual corporate control test but uses more than 50% ownership instead of 80%, and one special rule (section 1563(b)) does not apply. Qualified export assets include export property, assets used to store, move, or service export property, receivables from export sales, cash for working capital, certain producer’s loans, stock in related foreign export companies, and export financing obligations from the Export‑Import Bank. “Export property” must be made in the United States by someone other than a DISC, held to sell or lease for use outside the United States, and not have more than 50% of its value from imported parts. Some items are excluded from export property, such as leases to related members, many intangibles, primary fuels eligible for depletion, goods whose export is limited for domestic protection, and unprocessed softwood logs. The President can declare a product “in short supply,” which stops it from being treated as export property while the shortage lasts. Producer’s loans are loans to U.S. producers that meet rules: total DISC loans can’t exceed the DISC’s accumulated DISC income at the start of the month, loans must be noted and mature in 5 years or less, be designated as producer’s loans, and meet limits based on the borrower’s U.S. plant and inventory basis, past R&D, and the share of prior sales that were exports. Special, looser rules apply for U.S. film makers that meet specific U.S.-content tests. A related foreign export corporation can be an international sales company (more than 50% owned, 95% of receipts and 95% of assets tied to exports), a real‑property holding company for the domestic firm’s exclusive use, or an associated foreign company with low voting ownership that furthers export sales. “Gross receipts” means total sales and other income, and for commissions you count the full sale value. “United States” includes Puerto Rico and U.S. possessions.
Full Legal Text
Title 26, §993
Internal Revenue Code, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Qualified export receipts
(1)General rule
For purposes of this part, except as provided by regulations under paragraph (2), the qualified export receipts of a corporation are—
(A)gross receipts from the sale, exchange, or other disposition of export property,
(B)gross receipts from the lease or rental of export property, which is used by the lessee of such property outside the United States,
(C)gross receipts for services which are related and subsidiary to any qualified sale, exchange, lease, rental, or other disposition of export property by such corporation,
(D)gross receipts from the sale, exchange, or other disposition of qualified export assets (other than export property),
(E)dividends (or amounts includible in gross income under section 951) with respect to stock of a related foreign export corporation (as defined in subsection (e)),
(F)interest on any obligation which is a qualified export asset,
(G)gross receipts for engineering or architectural services for construction projects located (or proposed for location) outside the United States, and
(H)gross receipts for the performance of managerial services in furtherance of the production of other qualified export receipts of a DISC.
(2)Excluded receipts
The Secretary may under regulations designate receipts from the sale, exchange, lease, rental, or other disposition of export property, and from services, as not being receipts described in paragraph (1) if he determines that such sale, exchange, lease, rental, or other disposition, or furnishing of services—
(A)is for ultimate use in the United States;
(B)is accomplished by a subsidy granted by the United States or any instrumentality thereof;
(C)is for use by the United States or any instrumentality thereof where the use of such export property or services is required by law or regulation.
For purposes of this part, the term “qualified export receipts” does not include receipts from a corporation which is a DISC for its taxable year in which the receipts arise and which is a member of a controlled group (as defined in paragraph (3)) which includes the recipient corporation.
(3)Definition of controlled group
For purposes of this part, the term “controlled group” has the meaning assigned to the term “controlled group of corporations” by section 1563(a), except that the phrase “more than 50 percent” shall be substituted for the phrase “at least 80 percent” each place it appears therein, and section 1563(b) shall not apply.
(b)Qualified export assets
For purposes of this part, the qualified export assets of a corporation are—
(1)export property (as defined in subsection (c));
(2)assets used primarily in connection with the sale, lease, rental, storage, handling, transportation, packaging, assembly, or servicing of export property, or the performance of engineering or architectural services described in subparagraph (G) of subsection (a)(1) or managerial services in furtherance of the production of qualified export receipts described in subparagraphs (A), (B), (C), and (G) of subsection (a)(1);
(3)accounts receivable and evidences of indebtedness which arise by reason of transactions of such corporation or of another corporation which is a DISC and which is a member of a controlled group which includes such corporation described in subparagraph (A), (B), (C), (D), (G), or (H), of subsection (a)(1);
(4)money, bank deposits, and other similar temporary investments, which are reasonably necessary to meet the working capital requirements of such corporation;
(5)obligations arising in connection with a producer’s loan (as defined in subsection (d));
(6)stock or securities of a related foreign export corporation (as defined in subsection (e));
(7)obligations issued, guaranteed, or insured, in whole or in part, by the Export-Import Bank of the United States or the Foreign Credit Insurance Association in those cases where such obligations are acquired from such Bank or Association or from the seller or purchaser of the goods or services with respect to which such obligations arose;
(8)obligations issued by a domestic corporation organized solely for the purpose of financing sales of export property pursuant to an agreement with the Export-Import Bank of the United States under which such corporation makes export loans guaranteed by such bank; and
(9)amounts (other than reasonable working capital) on deposit in the United States that are utilized during the period provided for in, and otherwise in accordance with, regulations prescribed by the Secretary to acquire other qualified export assets.
(c)Export property
(1)In general
For purposes of this part, the term “export property” means property—
(A)manufactured, produced, grown, or extracted in the United States by a person other than a DISC,
(B)held primarily for sale, lease, or rental, in the ordinary course of trade or business, by, or to, a DISC, for direct use, consumption, or disposition outside the United States, and
(C)not more than 50 percent of the fair market value of which is attributable to articles imported into the United States.
In applying subparagraph (C), the fair market value of any article imported into the United States shall be its appraised value, as determined by the Secretary under section 402 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1401a) in connection with its importation.
(2)Excluded property
For purposes of this part, the term “export property” does not include—
(A)property leased or rented by a DISC for use by any member of a controlled group (as defined in subsection (a)(3)) which includes the DISC,
(B)patents, inventions, models, designs, formulas, or processes, whether or not patented, copyrights (other than films, tapes, records, or similar reproductions, for commercial or home use), goodwill, trademarks, trade brands, franchises, or other like property,
(C)products of a character with respect to which a deduction for depletion is allowable (including oil, gas, coal, or uranium products) under section 613 or 613A,
(E)any unprocessed timber which is a softwood.
Subparagraph (C) shall not apply to any commodity or product at least 50 percent of the fair market value of which is attributable to manufacturing or processing, except that subparagraph (C) shall apply to any primary product from oil, gas, coal, or uranium. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the term “processing” does not include extracting or handling, packing, packaging, grading, storing, or transporting. For purposes of subparagraph (E), the term “unprocessed timber” means any log, cant, or similar form of timber.
(3)Property in short supply
If the President determines that the supply of any property described in paragraph (1) is insufficient to meet the requirements of the domestic economy, he may by Executive order designate the property as in short supply. Any property so designated shall be treated as property not described in paragraph (1) during the period beginning with the date specified in the Executive order and ending with the date specified in an Executive order setting forth the President’s determination that the property is no longer in short supply.
(d)Producer’s loans
(1)In general
An obligation, subject to the rules provided in paragraphs (2) and (3), shall be treated as arising out of a producer’s loan if—
(A)the loan, when added to the unpaid balance of all other producer’s loans made by the DISC, does not exceed the accumulated DISC income at the beginning of the month in which the loan is made;
(B)the obligation is evidenced by a note (or other evidence of indebtedness) with a stated maturity date not more than 5 years from the date of the loan;
(C)the loan is made to a person engaged in the United States in the manufacturing, production, growing, or extraction of export property determined without regard to subparagraph (C) or (D) of subsection (c)(2), (referred to hereinafter as the “borrower”); and
(D)at the time of such loan it is designated as a producer’s loan.
(2)Limitation
An obligation shall be treated as arising out of a producer’s loan only to the extent that such loan, when added to the unpaid balance of all other producer’s loans to the borrower outstanding at the time such loan is made, does not exceed an amount determined by multiplying the sum of— (A)
(B)the amount of the borrower’s property held primarily for sale, lease, or rental, to customers in the ordinary course of trade or business, at the beginning of such taxable year; and
(C)the aggregate amount of the borrower’s research and experimental expenditures (within the meaning of section 174) in the United States during all preceding taxable years beginning after December 31, 1971,
by the percentage which the borrower’s receipts, during the 3 taxable years immediately preceding the taxable year (but not including any taxable year commencing prior to 1972) in which the loan is made, from the sale, lease, or rental outside the United States of property which would be export property (determined without regard to subparagraph (C) or (D) of subsection (c)(2)) if held by a DISC is of the gross receipts during such 3 taxable years from the sale, lease, or rental of property held by such borrower primarily for sale, lease, or rental to customers in the ordinary course of the trade or business of such borrower.
(3)Increased investment requirement
An obligation shall be treated as arising out of a producer’s loan in a taxable year only to the extent that such loan, when added to the unpaid balance of all other producer’s loans to the borrower made during such taxable year, does not exceed an amount equal to—
(A)the amount by which the sum of the adjusted basis of assets described in paragraph (2)(A) and (B) on the last day of the taxable year in which the loan is made exceeds the sum of the adjusted basis of such assets on the first day of such taxable year; plus
(B)the aggregate amount of the borrower’s research and experimental expenditures (within the meaning of section 174) in the United States during such taxable year.
(4)Special limitation in the case of domestic film maker
(A)In general
In the case of a borrower who is a domestic film maker and who incurs an obligation to a DISC for the making of a film, and such DISC is engaged in the trade or business of selling, leasing, or renting films which are export property, the limitation described in paragraph (2) may be determined (to the extent provided under regulations prescribed by the Secretary) on the basis of— (i)
(ii)the percentage which, based on the experience of producers of similar films, the annual receipts of such producers from the sale, lease, or rental of such films outside the United States is of the annual gross receipts of such producers from the sale, lease, or rental of such films.
(B)Domestic film maker
For purposes of this paragraph, a borrower is a domestic film maker with respect to a film if—
(i)such borrower is a United States person within the meaning of section 7701(a)(30), except that with respect to a partnership, all of the partners must be United States persons, and with respect to a corporation, all of its officers and at least a majority of its directors must be United States persons;
(ii)such borrower is engaged in the trade or business of making the film with respect to which the loan is made;
(iii)the studio, if any, used or to be used for the taking of photographs and the recording of sound incorporated into such film is located in the United States;
(iv)the aggregate playing time of portions of such film photographed outside the United States does not or will not exceed 20 percent of the playing time of such film; and
(v)not less than 80 percent of the total amount paid or to be paid for services performed in the making of such film is paid or to be paid to persons who are United States persons at the time such services are performed or consists of amounts which are fully taxable by the United States.
(C)Special rules for application of subparagraph (B)(v)
For purposes of clause (v) of subparagraph (B)—
(i)there shall not be taken into account any amount which is contingent upon receipts or profits of the film and which is fully taxable by the United States (within the meaning of clause (ii)); and
(ii)any amount paid or to be paid to a United States person, to a non-resident alien individual, or to a corporation which furnishes the services of an officer or employee to the borrower with respect to the making of a film, shall be treated as fully taxable by the United States only if the total amount received by such person, individual, officer, or employee for services performed in the making of such film is fully included in gross income for purposes of this chapter.
(e)Related foreign export corporation
In determining whether a corporation (hereinafter in this subsection referred to as “the domestic corporation”) is a DISC—
(1)Foreign international sales corporation
A foreign corporation is a related foreign export corporation if—
(A)stock possessing more than 50 percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock entitled to vote is owned directly by the domestic corporation,
(B)95 percent or more of such foreign corporation’s gross receipts for its taxable year ending with or within the taxable year of the domestic corporation consists of qualified export receipts described in subparagraphs (A), (B), (C), and (D) of subsection (a)(1) and interest on any obligation described in paragraphs (3) and (4) of subsection (b), and
(C)the adjusted basis of the qualified export assets (described in paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4) of subsection (b)) held by such foreign corporation at the close of such taxable year equals or exceeds 95 percent of the sum of the adjusted basis of all assets held by it at the close of such taxable year.
(2)Real property holding company
A foreign corporation is a related foreign export corporation if—
(A)stock possessing more than 50 percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock entitled to vote is owned directly by the domestic corporation, and
(B)its exclusive function is to hold real property for the exclusive use (under a lease or otherwise) of the domestic corporation.
(3)Associated foreign corporation
A foreign corporation is a related foreign export corporation if—
(A)less than 10 percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock entitled to vote of such foreign corporation is owned (within the meaning of section 1563 (d) and (e)) by the domestic corporation or by a controlled group of corporations (within the meaning of section 1563) of which the domestic corporation is a member, and
(B)the ownership of stock or securities in such foreign corporation by the domestic corporation is determined (under regulations prescribed by the Secretary) to be reasonably in furtherance of a transaction or transactions giving rise to qualified export receipts of the domestic corporation.
(f)Gross receipts
For purposes of this part, the term “gross receipts” means the total receipts from the sale, lease, or rental of property held primarily for sale, lease, or rental in the ordinary course of trade or business, and gross income from all other sources. In the case of commissions on the sale, lease, or rental of property, the amount taken into account for purposes of this part as gross receipts shall be the gross receipts on the sale, lease, or rental of the property on which such commissions arose.
(g)United States defined
For purposes of this part, the term “United States” includes the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the possessions of the United States.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
section 3(2)(C) and 7(a) of the Export Administration Act of 1979, referred to in subsec. (c)(2)(D), were classified, respectively, to section 4602(2)(C) and 4606(a) of Title 50, War and National Defense, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title XVII, § 1766(a), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 2232.
Amendments
2018—Pub. L. 115–141, inserted “and special rules” after “Definitions” in section catchline. 1993—Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 103–66, § 13239(b)(2), inserted at end “For purposes of subparagraph (E), the term ‘unprocessed timber’ means any log, cant, or similar form of timber.” Subsec. (c)(2)(E). Pub. L. 103–66, § 13239(b)(1), added subpar. (E). 1984—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 98–369 substituted “the term ‘controlled group of corporations’ by” for “such term by”. 1979—Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 96–39 substituted “of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1401a)” for “402a of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C., sec. 1401a or 1402)”. Subsec. (c)(2)(D). Pub. L. 96–72 substituted “7(a) of the Export Administration Act of 1979” for “4(b) of the Export Administration Act of 1969 (50 U.S.C. App. 2403(b))” and “paragraph (2)(C)” for “paragraph (2)(A)”. 1976—Subsecs. (a)(2), (b)(9). Pub. L. 94–455, § 1906(b)(13)(A), struck out “or his delegate” after “Secretary”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 94–455, §§ 1101(b), 1906(b)(13)(A), in par. (1) in provisions following subpar. (C), struck out “or his delegate” after “Secretary”, in par. (2)(B) “or” after “like property”, and in par. (2)(C), substituted “under section 613 or 613A” for “under section 611” after “uranium products)”. Subsec. (d)(1)(C). Pub. L. 94–455, § 1101(c)(1), inserted “determined without regard to subparagraph (C) or (D) of subsection (c)(2)” after “export property”. Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 94–455, § 1101(c)(2), inserted “(determined without regard to subparagraph (C) or (D) of subsection (c)(2))” after “would be export property”. Subsecs. (d)(4)(A), (e)(3)(B). Pub. L. 94–455, § 1906(b)(13)(A), struck out “or his delegate” after “Secretary”. 1975—Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 94–12 added subpars. (C) and (D) and provisions following subpar. (D). 1974—Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 93–482 inserted “or of another corporation which is a DISC and which is a member of a controlled group which includes such corporation” after “such corporation”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 1993 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 103–66 applicable to sales, exchanges, or other dispositions after Aug. 10, 1993, see section 13239(e) of Pub. L. 103–66, set out as a note under section 865 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1984 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 98–369 applicable to transactions after Dec. 31, 1984, in taxable years ending after such date, see section 805(a)(1) of Pub. L. 98–369, as amended, set out as a note under section 245 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1979
Amendments
Amendment by Pub. L. 96–72 effective upon the expiration of the Export Administration Act of 1969, which terminated on Sept. 30, 1979, or upon any prior date which the Congress by concurrent resolution or the President by proclamation designated, see Pub. L. 96–72, § 19(a), Sept. 29, 1979, 93 Stat. 535, which was classified to section 4621 of Title 50, War and National Defense, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title XVII, § 1766(a), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 2232. Amendment by Pub. L. 96–39 effective Jan. 1, 1981, with provision for an earlier
Effective Date
under certain circumstances, see section 204 of Pub. L. 96–39, set out as a note under section 1401a of Title 19, Customs Duties.
Effective Date
of 1976 Amendment Pub. L. 94–455, title XI, § 1101(g)(2), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1659, provided that: “The
Amendments
made by subsection (b) [amending this section] shall apply to sales, exchanges, and other dispositions made after March 18, 1975, in taxable years ending after such date.” Pub. L. 94–455, title XI, § 1101(g)(3), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1659, provided that: “The
Amendments
made by subsections (c) and (f) [amending this section] shall apply to taxable years ending after March 18, 1975.”
Effective Date
of 1975 Amendment Pub. L. 94–12, title VI, § 603(b), Mar. 29, 1975, 89 Stat. 65, as amended by Pub. L. 94–455, title XI, § 1101(f), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1659; Pub. L. 99–514, § 2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2095, provided that: “(1) In general.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), the
Amendments
made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply to sales, exchanges, and other dispositions made after March 18, 1975, in taxable years ending after such date. “(2) Binding contract.—The
Amendments
made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall not apply to sales, exchanges, and other dispositions made after
March 18, 1975, but before
March 19, 1980, if such sales, exchanges, and other dispositions are made pursuant to a fixed contract. The term ‘fixed contract’ means a contract which was, on
March 18, 1975, and is at all times thereafter binding on the DISC or a taxpayer which was a member of the same controlled group (within the meaning of section 993(a)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [formerly I.R.C. 1954]) as the DISC, which was entered into after the date on which the DISC qualified as a DISC and the DISC and the taxpayer became members of the same controlled group, and under which the price and quantity of the products sold, exchanged, or otherwise disposed of cannot be increased.”
Effective Date
of 1974 Amendment Pub. L. 93–482, § 3(b), Oct. 26, 1974, 88 Stat. 1456, provided that: “The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] applies to taxable years beginning after
December 31, 1973. The amendment shall, at the election of the taxpayer made within 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 26, 1974], also apply to any taxable year beginning after
December 31, 1971, and before
January 1, 1974.”
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
26 U.S.C. § 993
Title 26, Internal Revenue Code
Last Updated
Sep 23, 2026
Release point: 119-110