26 USC 441 - Period for computation of taxable income

Collapse to view only § 441. Period for computation of taxable income

§ 441. Period for computation of taxable income
§ 442. Change of annual accounting period
§ 443. Returns for a period of less than 12 months
§ 444. Election of taxable year other than required taxable year

§ 441. Period for computation of taxable income

(a) Computation of taxable income

(b) Taxable year

For purposes of this subtitle, the term “taxable year” means—

(1) the taxpayer’s annual accounting period, if it is a calendar year or a fiscal year;

(2) the calendar year, if subsection (g) applies;

(3) the period for which the return is made, if a return is made for a period of less than 12 months; or

(4) in the case of a DISC filing a return for a period of at least 12 months, the period determined under subsection (h).

(d) Calendar year

(e) Fiscal year

(f) Election of year consisting of 52–53 weeks

(1) General rule

A taxpayer who, in keeping his books, regularly computes his income on the basis of an annual period which varies from 52 to 53 weeks and ends always on the same day of the week and ends always—

(A) on whatever date such same day of the week last occurs in a calendar month, or

(B) on whatever date such same day of the week falls which is nearest to the last day of a calendar month,

may (in accordance with the regulations prescribed under paragraph (3)) elect to compute his taxable income for purposes of this subtitle on the basis of such annual period. This paragraph shall apply to taxable years ending after the date of the enactment of this title.

(2) Special rules for 52–53-week year

(A) Effective dates

In any case in which the effective date or the applicability of any provision of this title is expressed in terms of taxable years beginning, including, or ending with reference to a specified date which is the first or last day of a month, a taxable year described in paragraph (1) shall (except for purposes of the computation under section 15) be treated—

(i) as beginning with the first day of the calendar month beginning nearest to the first day of such taxable year, or

(ii) as ending with the last day of the calendar month ending nearest to the last day of such taxable year,

as the case may be.

(B) Change in accounting period

In the case of a change from or to a taxable year described in paragraph (1)—

(i) if such change results in a short period (within the meaning of section 443) of 359 days or more, or of less than 7 days, section 443(b) (relating to alternative tax computation) shall not apply;

(ii) if such change results in a short period of less than 7 days, such short period shall, for purposes of this subtitle, be added to and deemed a part of the following taxable year; and

(iii) if such change results in a short period to which subsection (b) of section 443 applies, the taxable income for such short period shall be placed on an annual basis for purposes of such subsection by multiplying the gross income for such short period (minus the deductions allowed by this chapter for the short period, but only the adjusted amount of the deductions for personal exemptions as described in section 443(c)) by 365, by dividing the result by the number of days in the short period, and the tax shall be the same part of the tax computed on the annual basis as the number of days in the short period is of 365 days.

(3) Special rule for partnerships, S corporations, and personal service corporations

(4) Regulations

(g) No books kept; no accounting period

Except as provided in section 443 (relating to returns for periods of less than 12 months), the taxpayer’s taxable year shall be the calendar year if—

(1) the taxpayer keeps no books;

(2) the taxpayer does not have an annual accounting period; or

(3) the taxpayer has an annual accounting period, but such period does not qualify as a fiscal year.

(h) Taxable year of DISC’s

(1) In general

(2) Special rule where more than one shareholder (or group) has highest percentage

(3) Subsequent changes of ownership

(4) Voting power determined

(i) Taxable year of personal service corporations

(1) In general

(2) Personal service corporation

For purposes of this subsection, the term “personal service corporation” has the meaning given such term by section 269A(b)(1), except that section 269A(b)(2) shall be applied—

(A) by substituting “any” for “more than 10 percent”, and

(B) by substituting “any” for “50 percent or more in value” in section 318(a)(2)(C).

A corporation shall not be treated as a personal service corporation unless more than 10 percent of the stock (by value) in such corporation is held by employee-owners (within the meaning of section 269A(b)(2), as modified by the preceding sentence). If a corporation is a member of an affiliated group filing a consolidated return, all members of such group shall be taken into account in determining whether such corporation is a personal service corporation.

(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 148; Pub. L. 88–272, title II, § 235(c)(3), Feb. 26, 1964, 78 Stat. 127; Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, § 1906(b)(13)(A), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1834; Pub. L. 95–30, title I, § 102(b)(5), May 23, 1977, 91 Stat. 137; Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title IV, § 474(b)(2), title VIII, § 803, July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 830, 1000; Pub. L. 99–514, title I, § 104(b)(6), title VIII, § 806(c)(1), (d), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2105, 2364; Pub. L. 100–647, title I, § 1008(e)(4), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3440; Pub. L. 110–172, § 11(g)(7), Dec. 29, 2007, 121 Stat. 2490.)

§ 442. Change of annual accounting period

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.

(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 149; Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, § 1906(b)(13)(A), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1834.)

§ 443. Returns for a period of less than 12 months

(a) Returns for short period

A return for a period of less than 12 months (referred to in this section as “short period”) shall be made under any of the following circumstances:

(1) Change of annual accounting period

(2) Taxpayer not in existence for entire taxable year

(b) Computation of tax on change of annual accounting period

(1) General rule

(2) Exception

(A) Computation based on 12-month period

If the taxpayer applies for the benefits of this paragraph and establishes the amount of this taxable income for the 12-month period described in subparagraph (B), computed as if that period were a taxable year and under the law applicable to that year, then the tax for the short period, computed under paragraph (1), shall be reduced to the greater of the following:

(i) an amount which bears the same ratio to the tax computed on the taxable income for the 12-month period as the modified taxable income computed on the basis of the short period bears to the modified taxable income for the 12-month period; or

(ii) the tax computed on the modified taxable income for the short period.

The taxpayer (other than a taxpayer to whom subparagraph (B)(ii) applies) shall compute the tax and file his return without the application of this paragraph.

(B) 12-month period

The 12-month period referred to in subparagraph (A) shall be—

(i) the period of 12 months beginning on the first day of the short period, or

(ii) the period of 12 months ending at the close of the last day of the short period, if at the end of the 12 months referred to in clause (i) the taxpayer is not in existence or (if a corporation) has theretofore disposed of substantially all of its assets.

(D) Regulations

(3) Modified taxable income defined

(d) Adjustment in computing minimum tax and tax preferences

If a return is made for a short period by reason of subsection (a)—

(1) the alternative minimum taxable income for the short period shall be placed on an annual basis by multiplying such amount by 12 and dividing the result by the number of months in the short period, and

(2) the amount computed under paragraph (1) of section 55(a) shall bear the same relation to the tax computed on the annual basis as the number of months in the short period bears to 12.

(e) Cross references

For inapplicability of subsection (b) in computing—

(1) Accumulated earnings tax, see section 536.

(2) Personal holding company tax, see section 546.

(3) The taxable income of a regulated investment company, see section 852(b)(2)(E).

(4) The taxable income of a real estate investment trust, see section 857(b)(2)(C).

For returns for a period of less than 12 months in the case of a debtor’s election to terminate a taxable year, see section 1398(d)(2)(E).

(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 149; Pub. L. 86–779, § 10(i), Sept. 14, 1960, 74 Stat. 1009; Pub. L. 91–172, title III, § 301(b)(6), Dec. 30, 1969, 83 Stat. 585; Pub. L. 94–455, title III, § 301(e), title XII, § 1204(c)(2), title XVI, § 1607(b)(1)(C), title XIX, § 1906(b)(13)(A), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1553, 1697, 1757, 1834; Pub. L. 95–30, title I, § 102(b)(6), May 23, 1977, 91 Stat. 137; Pub. L. 95–600, title IV, § 421(e)(2), title VII, § 703(o)(1)–(3), Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2876, 2943; Pub. L. 96–222, title I, § 104(a)(4)(H)(iii), Apr. 1, 1980, 94 Stat. 217; Pub. L. 96–589, § 3(d), Dec. 24, 1980, 94 Stat. 3401; Pub. L. 97–448, title III, § 304(a), Jan. 12, 1983, 96 Stat. 2398; Pub. L. 99–514, title I, § 104(b)(7), title VII, § 701(e)(3), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2105, 2342; Pub. L. 108–357, title IV, § 413(c)(6), Oct. 22, 2004, 118 Stat. 1507.)

§ 444. Election of taxable year other than required taxable year

(a) General rule

(b) Limitations on taxable years which may be elected

(1) In general

(2) Changes in taxable year

Except as provided in paragraph (3), in the case of an entity changing a taxable year, an election may be made under subsection (a) only if the deferral period of the taxable year elected is not longer than the shorter of—

(A) 3 months, or

(B) the deferral period of the taxable year which is being changed.

(3) Special rule for entities retaining 1986 taxable years

(4) Deferral period

For purposes of this subsection, except as provided in regulations, the term “deferral period” means, with respect to any taxable year of the entity, the months between—

(A) the beginning of such year, and

(B) the close of the 1st required taxable year ending within such year.

If an entity makes an election under subsection (a), then—

(1) in the case of a partnership or S corporation, such entity shall make the payments required by section 7519, and

(2) in the case of a personal service corporation, such corporation shall be subject to the deduction limitations of section 280H.

(d) Elections

(1) Person making election

(2) Period of election

(A) In general

(B) No further election

(3) Tiered structures, etc.

(A) In general

Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph—

(i) no election may be under subsection (a) with respect to any entity which is part of a tiered structure, and

(ii) an election under subsection (a) with respect to any entity shall be terminated if such entity becomes part of a tiered structure.

(B) Exceptions for structures consisting of certain entities with same taxable year

(e) Required taxable year

(f) Personal service corporation

(g) Regulations

(Added Pub. L. 100–203, title X, § 10206(a)(1), Dec. 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 1330–397; amended Pub. L. 100–647, title II, § 2004(e)(1), (2)(A), (12), (13), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3600, 3602.)