26 USC 617 - Deduction and recapture of certain mining exploration expenditures

Collapse to view only § 617. Deduction and recapture of certain mining exploration expenditures

§ 611. Allowance of deduction for depletion
§ 612. Basis for cost depletion
§ 613. Percentage depletion
§ 613A. Limitations on percentage depletion in case of oil and gas wells
§ 614. Definition of property
[§ 615. Repealed.
§ 616. Development expenditures
§ 617. Deduction and recapture of certain mining exploration expenditures

§ 611. Allowance of deduction for depletion

(a) General rule

(b) Special rules

(1) Leases

(2) Life tenant and remainderman

(3) Property held in trust

(4) Property held by estate

(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 207; Pub. L. 85–866, title I, § 35, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1632; Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, § 1906(b)(13)(A), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1834.)

§ 612. Basis for cost depletion

Except as otherwise provided in this subchapter, the basis on which depletion is to be allowed in respect of any property shall be the adjusted basis provided in section 1011 for the purpose of determining the gain upon the sale or other disposition of such property.

(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 208.)

§ 613. Percentage depletion

(a) General rule

(b) Percentage depletion rates

The mines, wells, and other natural deposits, and the percentages, referred to in subsection (a) are as follows:

(1) 22 percent

(A) sulphur and uranium; and

(B) if from deposits in the United States—anorthosite, clay, laterite, and nephelite syenite (to the extent that alumina and aluminum compounds are extracted therefrom), asbestos, bauxite, celestite, chromite, corundum, fluorspar, graphite, ilmenite, kyanite, mica, olivine, quartz crystals (radio grade), rutile, block steatite talc, and zircon, and ores of the following metals: antimony, beryllium, bismuth, cadmium, cobalt, columbium, lead, lithium, manganese, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, platinum and platinum group metals, tantalum, thorium, tin, titanium, tungsten, vanadium, and zinc.

(2) 15 percent

If from deposits in the United States—

(A) gold, silver, copper, and iron ore, and

(B) oil shale (except shale described in paragraph (5)).

(3) 14 percent

(A) metal mines (if paragraph (1)(B) or (2)(A) does not apply), rock asphalt, and vermiculite; and

(B) if paragraph (1)(B), (5), or (6)(B) does not apply, ball clay, bentonite, china clay, sagger clay, and clay used or sold for use for purposes dependent on its refractory properties.

(4) 10 percent

(5) 7½ percent

(6) 5 percent

(A) gravel, peat, pumice, sand, scoria, shale (except shale described in paragraph (2)(B) or (5)), and stone (except stone described in paragraph (7));

(B) clay used, or sold for use, in the manufacture of drainage and roofing tile, flower pots, and kindred products; and

(7) 14 percent

All other minerals, including, but not limited to, aplite, barite, borax, calcium carbonates, diatomaceous earth, dolomite, feldspar, fullers earth, garnet, gilsonite, granite, limestone, magnesite, magnesium carbonates, marble, mollusk shells (including clam shells and oyster shells), phosphate rock, potash, quartzite, slate, soapstone, stone (used or sold for use by the mine owner or operator as dimension stone or ornamental stone), thenardite, tripoli, trona, and (if paragraph (1)(B) does not apply) bauxite, flake graphite, fluorspar, lepidolite, mica, spodumene, and talc (including pyrophyllite), except that, unless sold on bid in direct competition with a bona fide bid to sell a mineral listed in paragraph (3), the percentage shall be 5 percent for any such other mineral (other than slate to which paragraph (5) applies) when used, or sold for use, by the mine owner or operator as rip rap, ballast, road material, rubble, concrete aggregates, or for similar purposes. For purposes of this paragraph, the term “all other minerals” does not include—

(A) soil, sod, dirt, turf, water, or mosses;

(B) minerals from sea water, the air, or similar inexhaustible sources; or

For the purposes of this subsection, minerals (other than sodium chloride) extracted from brines pumped from a saline perennial lake within the United States shall not be considered minerals from an inexhaustible source.

For purposes of this section—

(1) Gross income from the property

(2) Mining

(3) Extraction of the ores or minerals from the ground

(4) Treatment processes considered as mining

The following treatment processes where applied by the mine owner or operator shall be considered as mining to the extent they are applied to the ore or mineral in respect of which he is entitled to a deduction for depletion under section 611:

(A) In the case of coal—cleaning, breaking, sizing, dust allaying, treating to prevent freezing, and loading for shipment;

(B) in the case of sulfur recovered by the Frasch process—cleaning, pumping to vats, cooling, breaking, and loading for shipment;

(C) in the case of iron ore, bauxite, ball and sagger clay, rock asphalt, and ores or minerals which are customarily sold in the form of a crude mineral product—sorting, concentrating, sintering, and substantially equivalent processes to bring to shipping grade and form, and loading for shipment;

(D) in the case of lead, zinc, copper, gold, silver, uranium, or fluorspar ores, potash, and ores or minerals which are not customarily sold in the form of the crude mineral product—crushing, grinding, and beneficiation by concentration (gravity, flotation, amalgamation, electrostatic, or magnetic), cyanidation, leaching, crystallization, precipitation (but not including electrolytic deposition, roasting, thermal or electric smelting, or refining), or by substantially equivalent processes or combination of processes used in the separation or extraction of the product or products from the ore or the mineral or minerals from other material from the mine or other natural deposit;

(E) the pulverization of talc, the burning of magnesite, the sintering and nodulizing of phosphate rock, the decarbonation of trona, and the furnacing of quicksilver ores;

(F) in the case of calcium carbonates and other minerals when used in making cement—all processes (other than preheating of the kiln feed) applied prior to the introduction of the kiln feed into the kiln, but not including any subsequent process;

(G) in the case of clay to which paragraph (5) or (6)(B) of subsection (b) applies—crushing, grinding, and separating the mineral from waste, but not including any subsequent process;

(H) in the case of oil shale—extraction from the ground, crushing, loading into the retort, and retorting (including in situ retorting), but not hydrogenation, refining, or any other process subsequent to retorting; and

(I) any other treatment process provided for by regulations prescribed by the Secretary which, with respect to the particular ore or mineral, is not inconsistent with the preceding provisions of this paragraph.

(5) Treatment processes not considered as mining

(d) Denial of percentage depletion in case of oil and gas wells

(e) Percentage depletion for geothermal deposits

(1) In general

In the case of geothermal deposits located in the United States or in a possession of the United States, for purposes of subsection (a)—

(A) such deposits shall be treated as listed in subsection (b), and

(B) 15 percent shall be deemed to be the percentage specified in subsection (b).

(2) Geothermal deposit defined

(3) Percentage depletion not to include lease bonuses, etc.

(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 208; Pub. L. 85–866, title I, § 36(a), Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1633; Pub. L. 86–564, title III, § 302(a), (b), June 30, 1960, 74 Stat. 291, 292; Pub. L. 87–834, § 13(e), Oct. 16, 1962, 76 Stat. 1034; Pub. L. 88–571, § 6(a), Sept. 2, 1964, 78 Stat. 860; Pub. L. 89–809, title II, §§ 207(a), 208(a), 209(a), (b), Nov. 13, 1966, 80 Stat. 1579, 1580; Pub. L. 91–172, title V, §§ 501(a), 502(a), Dec. 30, 1969, 83 Stat. 629, 630; Pub. L. 93–499, § 2(a), Oct. 29, 1974, 88 Stat. 1550; Pub. L. 94–12, title V, § 501(b)(1), (2), Mar. 29, 1975, 89 Stat. 53; Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, §§ 1901(b)(3)(K), 1906(b)(13)(A), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1793, 1834; Pub. L. 95–618, title IV, § 403(a)(1), (2)(A), Nov. 9, 1978, 92 Stat. 3203; Pub. L. 99–514, title IV, § 412(a)(2), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2227; Pub. L. 101–508, title XI, §§ 11522(a), 11815(b)(1), (2), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–486, 1388–557, 1388–558; Pub. L. 104–188, title I, § 1704(t)(34), Aug. 20, 1996, 110 Stat. 1889; Pub. L. 108–357, title I, § 102(d)(6), Oct. 22, 2004, 118 Stat. 1429; Pub. L. 109–135, title IV, § 412(gg), Dec. 21, 2005, 119 Stat. 2639; Pub. L. 115–97, title I, §§ 11011(d)(3), 13305(b)(4), Dec. 22, 2017, 131 Stat. 2071, 2126; Pub. L. 115–141, div. T, § 101(a)(2)(D), Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1155.)

§ 613A. Limitations on percentage depletion in case of oil and gas wells

(a) General rule

(b) Exemption for certain domestic gas wells

(1) In generalThe allowance for depletion under section 611 shall be computed in accordance with section 613 with respect to—

(A) regulated natural gas, and

(B) natural gas sold under a fixed contract,

and 22 percent shall be deemed to be specified in subsection (b) of section 613 for purposes of subsection (a) of that section.

(2) Natural gas from geopressured brine

(3) DefinitionsFor purposes of this subsection—

(A) Natural gas sold under a fixed contract

(B) Regulated natural gas

(C) Qualified natural gas from geopressured brineThe term “qualified natural gas from geopressured brine” means any natural gas—

(i) which is determined in accordance with section 503 of the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978 to be produced from geopressured brine, and

(ii) which is produced from any well the drilling of which began after September 30, 1978, and before January 1, 1984.

(1) In generalExcept as provided in subsection (d), the allowance for depletion under section 611 shall be computed in accordance with section 613 with respect to—

(A) so much of the taxpayer’s average daily production of domestic crude oil as does not exceed the taxpayer’s depletable oil quantity; and

(B) so much of the taxpayer’s average daily production of domestic natural gas as does not exceed the taxpayer’s depletable natural gas quantity;

and 15 percent shall be deemed to be specified in subsection (b) of section 613 for purposes of subsection (a) of that section.

(2) Average daily productionFor purposes of paragraph (1)—

(A) the taxpayer’s average daily production of domestic crude oil or natural gas for any taxable year, shall be determined by dividing his aggregate production of domestic crude oil or natural gas, as the case may be, during the taxable year by the number of days in such taxable year, and

(B) in the case of a taxpayer holding a partial interest in the production from any property (including an interest held in a partnership) such taxpayer’s production shall be considered to be that amount of such production determined by multiplying the total production of such property by the taxpayer’s percentage participation in the revenues from such property.

(3) Depletable oil quantity

(A) In generalFor purposes of paragraph (1), the taxpayer’s depletable oil quantity shall be equal to—

(i) the tentative quantity determined under subparagraph (B), reduced (but not below zero) by

(ii) except in the case of a taxpayer making an election under paragraph (6)(B), the taxpayer’s average daily marginal production for the taxable year.

(B) Tentative quantity

(4) Daily depletable natural gas quantity

[(5) Repealed. Pub. L. 101–508, title XI, § 11815(a)(1)(C), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–557]

(6) Oil and natural gas produced from marginal properties

(A) In generalExcept as provided in subsection (d) and subparagraph (B), the allowance for depletion under section 611 shall be computed in accordance with section 613 with respect to—

(i) so much of the taxpayer’s average daily marginal production of domestic crude oil as does not exceed the taxpayer’s depletable oil quantity (determined without regard to paragraph (3)(A)(ii)), and

(ii) so much of the taxpayer’s average daily marginal production of domestic natural gas as does not exceed the taxpayer’s depletable natural gas quantity (determined without regard to paragraph (3)(A)(ii)),

and the applicable percentage shall be deemed to be specified in subsection (b) of section 613 for purposes of subsection (a) of that section.

(B) Election to have paragraph apply to pro rata portion of marginal production

(C) Applicable percentageFor purposes of subparagraph (A), the term “applicable percentage” means the percentage (not greater than 25 percent) equal to the sum of—

(i) 15 percent, plus

(ii) 1 percentage point for each whole dollar by which $20 exceeds the reference price for crude oil for the calendar year preceding the calendar year in which the taxable year begins.

For purposes of this paragraph, the term “reference price” means, with respect to any calendar year, the reference price determined for such calendar year under section 45K(d)(2)(C).

(D) Marginal productionThe term “marginal production” means domestic crude oil or domestic natural gas which is produced during any taxable year from a property which—

(i) is a stripper well property for the calendar year in which the taxable year begins, or

(ii) is a property substantially all of the production of which during such calendar year is heavy oil.

(E) Stripper well propertyFor purposes of this paragraph, the term “stripper well property” means, with respect to any calendar year, any property with respect to which the amount determined by dividing—

(i) the average daily production of domestic crude oil and domestic natural gas from producing wells on such property for such calendar year, by

(ii) the number of such wells,

is 15 barrel equivalents or less.

(F) Heavy oil

(G) Average daily marginal productionFor purposes of this subsection—

(i) the taxpayer’s average daily marginal production of domestic crude oil or natural gas for any taxable year shall be determined by dividing the taxpayer’s aggregate marginal production of domestic crude oil or natural gas, as the case may be, during the taxable year by the number of days in such taxable year, and

(ii) in the case of a taxpayer holding a partial interest in the production from any property (including any interest held in any partnership), such taxpayer’s production shall be considered to be that amount of such production determined by multiplying the total production of such property by the taxpayer’s percentage participation in the revenues from such property.

(7) Special rules

(A) Production of crude oil in excess of depletable oil quantity

(B) Production of natural gas in excess of depletable natural gas quantity

(D) Partnerships

(8) Business under common control; members of the same family

(A) Component members of controlled group treated as one taxpayer

(B) Aggregation of business entities under common control

(D) Definition and special rulesFor purposes of this paragraph—

(i) the term “controlled group of corporations” has the meaning given to such term by section 1563(a), except that section 1563(b)(2) shall not apply and except that “more than 50 percent” shall be substituted for “at least 80 percent” each place it appears in section 1563(a),

(ii) a person is a related person to another person if such persons are members of the same controlled group of corporations or if the relationship between such persons would result in a disallowance of losses under section 267 or 707(b), except that for this purpose the family of an individual includes only his spouse and minor children.

(iii) the family of an individual includes only his spouse and minor children, and

(iv) each 6,000 cubic feet of domestic natural gas shall be treated as 1 barrel of domestic crude oil.

(9) Special rule for fiscal year taxpayers

(10) Certain production not taken into account

(11) Subchapter S corporations

(A) Computation of depletion allowance at shareholder level

(B) Allocation of basis

(d) Limitations on application of subsection (c)

(1) Limitation based on taxable incomeThe deduction for the taxable year attributable to the application of subsection (c) shall not exceed 65 percent of the taxpayer’s taxable income for the year computed without regard to—

(A) any depletion on production from an oil or gas property which is subject to the provisions of subsection (c),

(B) any deduction allowable under section 199A,

(D) any capital loss carryback to the taxable year under section 1212, and

(E) in the case of a trust, any distributions to its beneficiary, except in the case of any trust where any beneficiary of such trust is a member of the family (as defined in section 267(c)(4)) of a settlor who created inter vivos and testamentary trusts for members of the family and such settlor died within the last six days of the fifth month in 1970, and the law in the jurisdiction in which such trust was created requires all or a portion of the gross or net proceeds of any royalty or other interest in oil, gas, or other mineral representing any percentage depletion allowance to be allocated to the principal of the trust.

If an amount is disallowed as a deduction for the taxable year by reason of application of the preceding sentence, the disallowed amount shall be treated as an amount allowable as a deduction under subsection (c) for the following taxable year, subject to the application of the preceding sentence to such taxable year. For purposes of basis adjustments and determining whether cost depletion exceeds percentage depletion with respect to the production from a property, any amount disallowed as a deduction on the application of this paragraph shall be allocated to the respective properties from which the oil or gas was produced in proportion to the percentage depletion otherwise allowable to such properties under subsection (c).

(2) Retailers excludedSubsection (c) shall not apply in the case of any taxpayer who directly, or through a related person, sells oil or natural gas (excluding bulk sales of such items to commercial or industrial users), or any product derived from oil or natural gas (excluding bulk sales of aviation fuels to the Department of Defense)—

(A) through any retail outlet operated by the taxpayer or a related person, or

(B) to any person—

(i) obligated under an agreement or contract with the taxpayer or a related person to use a trademark, trade name, or service mark or name owned by such taxpayer or a related person, in marketing or distributing oil or natural gas or any product derived from oil or natural gas, or

(ii) given authority, pursuant to an agreement or contract with the taxpayer or a related person, to occupy any retail outlet owned, leased, or in any way controlled by the taxpayer or a related person.

Notwithstanding the preceding sentence this paragraph shall not apply in any case where the combined gross receipts from the sale of such oil, natural gas, or any product derived therefrom, for the taxable year of all retail outlets taken into account for purposes of this paragraph do not exceed $5,000,000. For purposes of this paragraph, sales of oil, natural gas, or any product derived from oil or natural gas shall not include sales made of such items outside the United States, if no domestic production of the taxpayer or a related person is exported during the taxable year or the immediately preceding taxable year.

(3) Related personFor purposes of this subsection, a person is a related person with respect to the taxpayer if a significant ownership interest in either the taxpayer or such person is held by the other, or if a third person has a significant ownership interest in both the taxpayer and such person. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the term “significant ownership interest” means—

(A) with respect to any corporation, 5 percent or more in value of the outstanding stock of such corporation,

(B) with respect to a partnership, 5 percent or more interest in the profits or capital of such partnership, and

For purposes of determining a significant ownership interest, an interest owned by or for a corporation, partnership, trust, or estate shall be considered as owned directly both by itself and proportionately by its shareholders, partners, or beneficiaries, as the case may be.

(4) Certain refiners excluded

(5) Percentage depletion not allowed for lease bonuses, etc.

(e) DefinitionsFor purposes of this section—

(1) Crude oil

(2) Natural gas

(3) Domestic

(4) Barrel

(Added Pub. L. 94–12, title V, § 501(a), Mar. 29, 1975, 89 Stat. 47; amended Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, §§ 1901(a)(86), 1906(b)(13)(A), title XXI, § 2115(a)–(c)(1), (d), (e), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1779, 1834, 1907–1909; Pub. L. 95–30, title I, § 102(b)(7), May 23, 1977, 91 Stat. 138; Pub. L. 95–618, title IV, § 403(a)(2)(B), (b), Nov. 9, 1978, 92 Stat. 3204; Pub. L. 96–603, § 3(a), Dec. 28, 1980, 94 Stat. 3511; Pub. L. 97–354, § 3(a), Oct. 19, 1982, 96 Stat. 1687; Pub. L. 97–448, title II, § 202(d), Jan. 12, 1983, 96 Stat. 2396; Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title I, §§ 25(b), 71(b), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 506, 589; Pub. L. 99–514, title I, § 104(b)(9), title IV, § 412(a)(1), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2105, 2227; Pub. L. 101–508, title XI, §§ 11521(a), (b), 11522(b)(1), 11523(a), (b), 11815(a), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–485 to 1388–487, 1388–557; Pub. L. 104–188, title I, § 1702(e)(2), Aug. 20, 1996, 110 Stat. 1870; Pub. L. 105–34, title IX, § 972(a), Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 897; Pub. L. 106–170, title V, § 504(a), Dec. 17, 1999, 113 Stat. 1921; Pub. L. 107–147, title VI, § 607(a), Mar. 9, 2002, 116 Stat. 60; Pub. L. 108–311, title III, § 314(a), Oct. 4, 2004, 118 Stat. 1181; Pub. L. 109–58, title XIII, §§ 1322(a)(3)(B), 1328(a), Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 1011, 1019; Pub. L. 109–135, title IV, § 403(a)(18), Dec. 21, 2005, 119 Stat. 2619; Pub. L. 109–432, div. A, title I, § 118(a), Dec. 20, 2006, 120 Stat. 2942; Pub. L. 110–343, div. B, title II, § 210, Oct. 3, 2008, 122 Stat. 3840; Pub. L. 111–312, title VII, § 706(a), Dec. 17, 2010, 124 Stat. 3311; Pub. L. 115–97, title I, §§ 11011(d)(4), 13305(b)(5), Dec. 22, 2017, 131 Stat. 2071, 2126; Pub. L. 115–141, div. U, title IV, § 401(a)(136), (b)(26), Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1190, 1203.)

§ 614. Definition of property

(a) General rule

(b) Special rules as to operating mineral interests in oil and gas wells or geothermal deposits

In the case of oil and gas wells or geothermal deposits—

(1) In general

Except as otherwise provided in this subsection—

(A) all of the taxpayer’s operating mineral interests in a separate tract or parcel of land shall be combined and treated as one property, and

(B) the taxpayer may not combine an operating mineral interest in one tract or parcel of land with an operating mineral interest in another tract or parcel of land.

(2) Election to treat operating mineral interests as separate properties

If the taxpayer has more than one operating mineral interest in a single tract or parcel of land, he may elect to treat one or more of such operating mineral interests as separate properties. The taxpayer may not have more than one combination of operating mineral interests in a single tract or parcel of land. If the taxpayer makes the election provided in this paragraph with respect to any interest in a tract or parcel of land, each operating mineral interest which is discovered or acquired by the taxpayer in such tract or parcel of land after the taxable year for which the election is made shall be treated—

(A) if there is no combination of interests in such tract or parcel, as a separate property unless the taxpayer elects to combine it with another interest, or

(B) if there is a combination of interests in such tract or parcel, as part of such combination unless the taxpayer elects to treat it as a separate property.

(3) Certain unitization or pooling arrangements

(A) In general

Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, if one or more of the taxpayer’s operating mineral interests participate, under a voluntary or compulsory unitization or pooling agreement, in a single cooperative or unit plan of operation, then for the period of such participation—

(i) they shall be treated for all purposes of this subtitle as one property, and

(ii) the application of paragraphs (1), (2), and (4) in respect of such interests shall be suspended.

(B) Limitation

Subparagraph (A) shall apply to a voluntary agreement only if all the operating mineral interests covered by such agreement—

(i) are in the same deposit, or are in 2 or more deposits the joint development or production of which is logical from the standpoint of geology, convenience, economy, or conservation, and

(ii) are in tracts or parcels of land which are contiguous or in close proximity.

(4) Manner, time, and scope of election

(A) Manner and time

(B) Scope

(1) Election to aggregate separate interests

Except in the case of oil and gas wells and geothermal deposits, if a taxpayer owns two or more separate operating mineral interests which constitute part or all of an operating unit, he may elect (for all purposes of this subtitle)—

(A) to form an aggregation of, and to treat as one property, all such interests owned by him which comprise any one mine or any two or more mines; and

(B) to treat as a separate property each such interest which is not included within an aggregation referred to in subparagraph (A).

For purposes of this paragraph, separate operating mineral interests which constitute part or all of an operating unit may be aggregated whether or not they are included in a single tract or parcel of land and whether or not they are included in contiguous tracts or parcels. For purposes of this paragraph, a taxpayer may elect to form more than one aggregation of operating mineral interests within any one operating unit; but no aggregation may include any operating mineral interest which is a part of a mine without including all of the operating mineral interests which are a part of such mine in the first taxable year for which the election to aggregate is effective, and any operating mineral interest which thereafter becomes a part of such mine shall be included in such aggregation.

(2) Election to treat a single interest as more than one property

(3) Manner and scope of election

The elections provided by paragraphs (1) and (2) shall be made, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary, not later than the time prescribed for filing the return (including extensions thereof) for the first taxable year—

(A) in which, in the case of an election under paragraph (1), any expenditure for development or operation in respect of the separate operating mineral interest is made by the taxpayer after the acquisition of such interest, or

(B) in which, in the case of an election under paragraph (2), expenditures for development or operation of more than one mine in respect of a property are made by the taxpayer after the acquisition of the property.

An election made under paragraph (1) or (2) for a taxable year shall be binding upon the taxpayer for such year and all subsequent taxable years, except that the Secretary may consent to a different treatment of any interest with respect to which an election has been made.

(d) Operating mineral interests defined

(e) Special rule as to nonoperating mineral interests

(1) Aggregation of separate interests

(2) Nonoperating mineral interests defined

(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 210; Pub. L. 85–866, title I, § 37(a)–(d), Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1633–1637; Pub. L. 88–272, title II, § 226(a), (b), Feb. 26, 1964, 78 Stat. 94, 96; Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, §§ 1901(a)(87)(A)(i), (B), (C), 1906(b)(13)(A), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1779, 1834; Pub. L. 95–618, title IV, § 403(a)(2)(C), (D), Nov. 9, 1978, 92 Stat. 3204; Pub. L. 101–508, title XI, § 11522(b)(2), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–486; Pub. L. 113–295, div. A, title II, § 221(a)(65), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 4048.)

[§ 615. Repealed. Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, § 1901(a)(88), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1779]

§ 616. Development expenditures

(a) In general

(b) Election of taxpayer

(d) Special rules for foreign developmentIn the case of any expenditures paid or incurred with respect to the development of a mine or other natural deposit (other than an oil, gas, or geothermal well) located outside of the United States—

(1) subsections (a) and (b) shall not apply, and

(2) such expenditures shall—

(A) at the election of the taxpayer, be included in adjusted basis for purposes of computing the amount of any deduction allowable under section 611 (without regard to section 613), or

(B) if subparagraph (A) does not apply, be allowed as a deduction ratably over the 10-taxable year period beginning with the taxable year in which such expenditures were paid or incurred.

(e) Cross reference

(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 212; Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, § 1906(b)(13)(A), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1834; Pub. L. 97–248, title II, § 201(d)(9)(C), formerly § 201(c)(9)(C), Sept. 3, 1982, 96 Stat. 420, renumbered § 201(d)(9)(C), Pub. L. 97–448, title III, § 306(a)(1)(A)(i), Jan. 12, 1983, 96 Stat. 2400; Pub. L. 99–514, title IV, § 411(b)(2)(A), (C)(i), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2226; Pub. L. 100–647, title I, § 1007(g)(7), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3435.)

§ 617. Deduction and recapture of certain mining exploration expenditures

(a) Allowance of deduction

(1) General rule

(2) Elections

(A) Method

(B) Time and scope

(b) Recapture on reaching producing stage

(1) RecaptureIf, in any taxable year, any mine with respect to which expenditures were deducted pursuant to subsection (a) reaches the producing stage, then—

(A) If the taxpayer so elects with respect to all such mines reaching the producing stage during the taxable year, he shall include in gross income for the taxable year an amount equal to the adjusted exploration expenditures with respect to such mines, and the amount so included in income shall be treated for purposes of this subtitle as expenditures which (i) are paid or incurred on the respective dates on which the mines reach the producing stage, and (ii) are properly chargeable to capital account.

(B) If subparagraph (A) does not apply with respect to any such mine, then the deduction for depletion under section 611 with respect to the property shall be disallowed until the amount of depletion which would be allowable but for this subparagraph equals the amount of the adjusted exploration expenditures with respect to such mine.

(2) Elections

(A) Method

(B) Time and scope

(d) Gain from dispositions of certain mining property

(1) General ruleExcept as otherwise provided in this subsection, if mining property is disposed of the lower of—

(A) the adjusted exploration expenditures with respect to such property, or

(B) the excess of—

(i) the amount realized (in the case of a sale, exchange, or involuntary conversion), or the fair market value (in the case of any other disposition), over

(ii) the adjusted basis of such property,

shall be treated as ordinary income. Such gain shall be recognized notwithstanding any other provision of this subtitle.

(2) Disposition of portion of propertyFor purposes of paragraph (1)—

(A) In the case of the disposition of a portion of a mining property (other than an undivided interest), the entire amount of the adjusted exploration expenditures with respect to such property shall be treated as attributable to such portion to the extent of the amount of the gain to which paragraph (1) applies.

(B) In the case of the disposition of an undivided interest in a mining property (or a portion thereof), a proportionate part of the adjusted exploration expenditures with respect to such property shall be treated as attributable to such undivided interest to the extent of the amount of the gain to which paragraph (1) applies.

This paragraph shall not apply to any expenditure to the extent the taxpayer establishes to the satisfaction of the Secretary that such expenditure relates neither to the portion (or interest therein) disposed of nor to any mine, in the property held by the taxpayer before the disposition, which has reached the producing stage.

(3) Exceptions and limitations

(4) Application of subsection

(5) Coordination with section 1254

(e) Basis of property

(1) Basis

(2) Adjustments

(f) DefinitionsFor purposes of this section

(1) Adjusted exploration expendituresThe term “adjusted exploration expenditures” means, with respect to any property or mine—

(A) the amount of the expenditures allowed for the taxable year and all preceding taxable years as deductions under subsection (a) to the taxpayer or any other person which are properly chargeable to such property or mine and which (but for the election under subsection (a)) would be reflected in the adjusted basis of such property or mine, reduced by

(B) for the taxable year and for each preceding taxable year, the amount (if any) by which (i) the amount which would have been allowable for percentage depletion under section 613 but for the deduction of such expenditures, exceeds (ii) the amount allowable for depletion under section 611,

properly adjusted for any amounts included in gross income under subsection (b) or (c) and for any amounts of gain to which subsection (d) applied.

(2) Mining property

(3) Disposal of coal or domestic iron ore with a retained economic interest

(g) Special rules relating to partnership property

(1) Property distributed to partner

(2) Property retained by partnership

(h) Special rules for foreign explorationIn the case of any expenditures paid or incurred before the development stage for the purpose of ascertaining the existence, location, extent, or quality of any deposit of ore or other mineral (other than an oil, gas, or geothermal well) located outside the United States—

(1) subsection (a) shall not apply, and

(2) such expenditures shall—

(A) at the election of the taxpayer, be included in adjusted basis for purposes of computing the amount of any deduction allowable under section 611 (without regard to section 613), or

(B) if subparagraph (A) does not apply, be allowed as a deduction ratably over the 10-taxable year period beginning with the taxable year in which such expenditures were paid or incurred.

(i) Cross reference

(Added Pub. L. 89–570, § 1(a), Sept. 12, 1966, 80 Stat. 759; amended Pub. L. 91–172, title V, § 504(b), Dec. 30, 1969, 83 Stat. 632; Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, §§ 1901(a)(89), (b)(3)(K), (21)(C)–(E), 1906(b)(13)(A), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1779, 1793, 1797, 1834; Pub. L. 97–248, title II, § 201(d)(9)(D), formerly § 201(c)(9)(D), § 224(c)(8), Sept. 3, 1982, 96 Stat. 420, 489, renumbered § 201(d)(9)(D), Pub. L. 97–448, title III, § 306(a)(1)(A)(i), Jan. 12, 1983, 96 Stat. 2400; Pub. L. 99–514, title IV, §§ 411(b)(2)(B), 413(b), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2226, 2228; Pub. L. 100–647, title I, § 1007(g)(7), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3435; Pub. L. 101–508, title XI, § 11801(a)(27), (c)(13), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–521, 1388–527.)