26 USC 1275 - Other definitions and special rules

Collapse to view only § 1275. Other definitions and special rules

§ 1271. Treatment of amounts received on retirement or sale or exchange of debt instruments
§ 1272. Current inclusion in income of original issue discount
§ 1273. Determination of amount of original issue discount
§ 1274. Determination of issue price in the case of certain debt instruments issued for property
§ 1274A. Special rules for certain transactions where stated principal amount does not exceed $2,800,000
§ 1275. Other definitions and special rules

§ 1271. Treatment of amounts received on retirement or sale or exchange of debt instruments

(a) General rule

For purposes of this title—

(1) Retirement

(2) Ordinary income on sale or exchange where intention to call before maturity

(A) In general

If at the time of original issue there was an intention to call a debt instrument before maturity, any gain realized on the sale or exchange thereof which does not exceed an amount equal to—

(i) the original issue discount, reduced by

(ii) the portion of original issue discount previously includible in the gross income of any holder (without regard to section 1272(a)(7) (or the corresponding provisions of prior law)),

shall be treated as ordinary income.

(B) Exceptions

This paragraph shall not apply to—

(i) any tax-exempt obligation, or

(ii) any holder who has purchased the debt instrument at a premium.

(3) Certain short-term Government obligations

(A) In general

(B) Short-term Government obligation

(D) Ratable share

For purposes of this paragraph, except as provided in subparagraph (E), the ratable share of the acquisition discount is an amount which bears the same ratio to such discount as—

(i) the number of days which the taxpayer held the obligation, bears to

(ii) the number of days after the date the taxpayer acquired the obligation and up to (and including) the date of its maturity.

(E) Election of accrual on basis of constant interest rate

At the election of the taxpayer with respect to any obligation, the ratable share of the acquisition discount is the portion of the acquisition discount accruing while the taxpayer held the obligation determined (under regulations prescribed by the Secretary) on the basis of—

(i) the taxpayer’s yield to maturity based on the taxpayer’s cost of acquiring the obligation, and

(ii) compounding daily.

An election under this subparagraph, once made with respect to any obligation, shall be irrevocable.

(4) Certain short-term nongovernment obligations

(A) In general

(B) Short-term nongovernment obligation

For purposes of this paragraph, the term “short-term nongovernment obligation” means any obligation which—

(i) has a fixed maturity date not more than 1 year from the date of the issue, and

(ii) is not a short-term Government obligation (as defined in paragraph (3)(B) without regard to the last sentence thereof).

For purposes of this paragraph, except as provided in subparagraph (D), the ratable share of the original issue discount is an amount which bears the same ratio to such discount as—

(i) the number of days which the taxpayer held the obligation, bears to

(ii) the number of days after the date of original issue and up to (and including) the date of its maturity.

(D) Election of accrual on basis of constant interest rate

At the election of the taxpayer with respect to any obligation, the ratable share of the original issue discount is the portion of the original issue discount accruing while the taxpayer held the obligation determined (under regulations prescribed by the Secretary) on the basis of—

(i) the yield to maturity based on the issue price of the obligation, and

(ii) compounding daily.

Any election under this subparagraph, once made with respect to any obligation, shall be irrevocable.

(b) Exception for certain obligations

(1) In general

(2) Termination

(Added Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title I, § 41(a), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 531; amended Pub. L. 99–514, title XVIII, § 1803(a)(1)(A), (2), (3), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2791, 2792; Pub. L. 100–647, title I, § 1006(u)(4), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3427; Pub. L. 105–34, title X, § 1003(c)(1), Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 910; Pub. L. 113–295, div. A, title II, § 221(a)(86), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 4049; Pub. L. 115–141, div. U, title IV, § 401(c)(1)(A), (D), (E), Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1205.)

§ 1272. Current inclusion in income of original issue discount

(a) Original issue discount included in income on basis of constant interest rate

(1) General rule

(2) ExceptionsParagraph (1) shall not apply to—

(A) Tax-exempt obligations

(B) United States savings bonds

(D) Loans between natural persons

(i) In generalAny loan made by a natural person to another natural person if—(I) such loan is not made in the course of a trade or business of the lender, and(II) the amount of such loan (when increased by the outstanding amount of prior loans by such natural person to such other natural person) does not exceed $10,000.

(ii) Clause (i) not to apply where tax avoidance a principal purpose

(iii) Treatment of husband and wife

(3) Determination of daily portions

(A) the product of—

(i) the adjusted issue price of the debt instrument at the beginning of such accrual period, and

(ii) the yield to maturity (determined on the basis of compounding at the close of each accrual period and properly adjusted for the length of the accrual period), over

(B) the sum of the amounts payable as interest on such debt instrument during such accrual period.

(4) Adjusted issue priceFor purposes of this subsection, the adjusted issue price of any debt instrument at the beginning of any accrual period is the sum of—

(A) the issue price of such debt instrument, plus

(B) the adjustments under this subsection to such issue price for all periods before the first day of such accrual period.

(5) Accrual period

(6) Determination of daily portions where principal subject to acceleration

(A) In generalIn the case of any debt instrument to which this paragraph applies, the daily portion of the original issue discount shall be determined by allocating to each day in any accrual period its ratable portion of the excess (if any) of—

(i) the sum of (I) the present value determined under subparagraph (B) of all remaining payments under the debt instrument as of the close of such period, and (II) the payments during the accrual period of amounts included in the stated redemption price of the debt instrument, over

(ii) the adjusted issue price of such debt instrument at the beginning of such period.

(B) Determination of present valueFor purposes of subparagraph (A), the present value shall be determined on the basis of—

(i) the original yield to maturity (determined on the basis of compounding at the close of each accrual period and properly adjusted for the length of the accrual period),

(ii) events which have occurred before the close of the accrual period, and

(iii) a prepayment assumption determined in the manner prescribed by regulations.

(i) any regular interest in a REMIC or qualified mortgage held by a REMIC,

(ii) any other debt instrument if payments under such debt instrument may be accelerated by reason of prepayments of other obligations securing such debt instrument (or, to the extent provided in regulations, by reason of other events), or

(iii) any pool of debt instruments the yield on which may be affected by reason of prepayments (or to the extent provided in regulations, by reason of other events).

To the extent provided in regulations prescribed by the Secretary, in the case of a small business engaged in the trade or business of selling tangible personal property at retail, clause (iii) shall not apply to debt instruments incurred in the ordinary course of such trade or business while held by such business.

(7) Reduction where subsequent holder pays acquisition premium

(A) Reduction

(B) Determination of fractionFor purposes of subparagraph (A), the fraction determined under this subparagraph is a fraction—

(i) the numerator of which is the excess (if any) of—(I) the cost of such debt instrument incurred by the purchaser, over(II) the issue price of such debt instrument, increased by the portion of original issue discount previously includible in the gross income of any holder (computed without regard to this paragraph), and

(ii) the denominator of which is the sum of the daily portions for such debt instrument for all days after the date of such purchase and ending on the stated maturity date (computed without regard to this paragraph).

(b) ExceptionsThis section shall not apply to any holder—

(1) who has purchased the debt instrument at a premium, or

(2) which is a life insurance company to which section 811(b) applies.

(1) Purchase definedFor purposes of this section, the term “purchase” means—

(A) any acquisition of a debt instrument, where

(B) the basis of the debt instrument is not determined in whole or in part by reference to the adjusted basis of such debt instrument in the hands of the person from whom acquired.

(2) Basis adjustment

(Added Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title I, § 41(a), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 533; amended Pub. L. 99–514, title VI, § 672, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2318; Pub. L. 105–34, title X, § 1004(a), Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 911; Pub. L. 115–141, div. U, title IV, § 401(c)(1)(B), (F), (3)(A), Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1205, 1206.)

§ 1273. Determination of amount of original issue discount

(a) General rule

For purposes of this subpart—

(1) In general

The term “original issue discount” means the excess (if any) of—

(A) the stated redemption price at maturity, over

(B) the issue price.

(2) Stated redemption price at maturity

(3) ¼ of 1 percent de minimis rule

If the original issue discount determined under paragraph (1) is less than—

(A) ¼ of 1 percent of the stated redemption price at maturity, multiplied by

(B) the number of complete years to maturity,

then the original issue discount shall be treated as zero.

(b) Issue price

For purposes of this subpart—

(1) Publicly offered debt instruments not issued for property

In the case of any issue of debt instruments—

(A) publicly offered, and

(B) not issued for property,

the issue price is the initial offering price to the public (excluding bond houses and brokers) at which price a substantial amount of such debt instruments was sold.

(2) Other debt instruments not issued for property

(3) Debt instruments issued for property where there is public trading

In the case of a debt instrument which is issued for property and which—

(A) is part of an issue a portion of which is traded on an established securities market, or

(B)

(i) is issued for stock or securities which are traded on an established securities market, or

(ii) to the extent provided in regulations, is issued for property (other than stock or securities) of a kind regularly traded on an established market,

the issue price of such debt instrument shall be the fair market value of such property.

(4) Other cases

Except in any case—

(A) to which paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of this subsection applies, or

(B) to which section 1274 applies,

the issue price of a debt instrument which is issued for property shall be the stated redemption price at maturity.

(5) Property

For purposes of subsection (b)—

(1) Initial offering price; price paid by the first buyer

(2) Treatment of investment units

In the case of any debt instrument and an option, security, or other property issued together as an investment unit—

(A) the issue price for such unit shall be determined in accordance with the rules of this subsection and subsection (b) as if it were a debt instrument,

(B) the issue price determined for such unit shall be allocated to each element of such unit on the basis of the relationship of the fair market value of such element to the fair market value of all elements in such unit, and

(C) the issue price of any debt instrument included in such unit shall be the portion of the issue price of the unit allocated to the debt instrument under subparagraph (B).

(Added Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title I, § 41(a), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 536; amended Pub. L. 99–514, title XVIII, § 1803(a)(10), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2794.)

§ 1274. Determination of issue price in the case of certain debt instruments issued for property

(a) In generalIn the case of any debt instrument to which this section applies, for purposes of this subpart, the issue price shall be—

(1) where there is adequate stated interest, the stated principal amount, or

(2) in any other case, the imputed principal amount.

(b) Imputed principal amountFor purposes of this section—

(1) In general

(2) Determination of present valueFor purposes of paragraph (1), the present value of a payment shall be determined in the manner provided by regulations prescribed by the Secretary—

(A) as of the date of the sale or exchange, and

(B) by using a discount rate equal to the applicable Federal rate, compounded semiannually.

(3) Fair market value rule in potentially abusive situations

(A) In general

(B) Potentially abusive situation definedFor purposes of subparagraph (A), the term “potentially abusive situation” means—

(i) a tax shelter (as defined in section 6662(d)(2)(C)(ii)), and

(ii) any other situation which, by reason of—(I) recent sales transactions,(II) nonrecourse financing,(III) financing with a term in excess of the economic life of the property, or(IV) other circumstances,

is of a type which the Secretary specifies by regulations as having potential for tax avoidance.

(1) In generalExcept as otherwise provided in this subsection, this section shall apply to any debt instrument given in consideration for the sale or exchange of property if—

(A) the stated redemption price at maturity for such debt instrument exceeds—

(i) where there is adequate stated interest, the stated principal amount, or

(ii) in any other case, the imputed principal amount of such debt instrument determined under subsection (b), and

(B) some or all of the payments due under such debt instrument are due more than 6 months after the date of such sale or exchange.

(2) Adequate stated interest

(3) ExceptionsThis section shall not apply to—

(A) Sales for $1,000,000 or less of farms by individuals or small businesses

(i) In generalAny debt instrument arising from the sale or exchange of a farm (within the meaning of section 6420(c)(2))—(I) by an individual, estate, or testamentary trust,(II) by a corporation which as of the date of the sale or exchange is a small business corporation (as defined in section 1244(c)(3)), or(III) by a partnership which as of the date of the sale or exchange meets requirements similar to those of section 1244(c)(3).

(ii) $1,000,000 limitation

(B) Sales of principal residences

(i) In generalAny debt instrument arising from the sale or exchange of property if the sum of the following amounts does not exceed $250,000:(I) the aggregate amount of the payments due under such debt instrument and all other debt instruments received as consideration for the sale or exchange, and(II) the aggregate amount of any other consideration to be received for the sale or exchange.

(ii) Consideration other than debt instrument taken into account at fair market value

(iii) Aggregation of transactions

(D) Debt instruments which are publicly traded or issued for publicly traded property

(E) Certain sales of patents

(F) Sales or exchanges to which section 483(e) applies

(4) Exception for assumptionsIf any person—

(A) in connection with the sale or exchange of property, assumes any debt instrument, or

(B) acquires any property subject to any debt instrument,

in determining whether this section or section 483 applies to such debt instrument, such assumption (or such acquisition) shall not be taken into account unless the terms and conditions of such debt instrument are modified (or the nature of the transaction is changed) in connection with the assumption (or acquisition).

(d) Determination of applicable Federal rateFor purposes of this section—

(1) Applicable Federal rate

(A) In general

(B) Determination of rates

(i) Federal short-term rate

(ii) Federal mid-term and long-term rates

(D) Lower rate permitted in certain cases

(2) Lowest 3-month rate applicable to any sale or exchange

(A) In general

(B) Lowest 3-month rate

(3) Term of debt instrument

(e) 110 Percent rate where sale-leaseback involved

(1) In general

(2) Lower discount rates shall not apply

(3) Debt instruments to which this subsection applies

(Added Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title I, § 41(a), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 538; amended Pub. L. 99–121, title I, §§ 101(a)(1), (b), (c), 102(b), Oct. 11, 1985, 99 Stat. 505, 506, 508; Pub. L. 99–514, title XVIII, § 1803(a)(14)(A), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2797; Pub. L. 101–239, title VII, § 7721(c)(11), Dec. 19, 1989, 103 Stat. 2400; Pub. L. 104–188, title I, § 1704(t)(78), Aug. 20, 1996, 110 Stat. 1891; Pub. L. 105–34, title III, § 312(d)(1), Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 839; Pub. L. 115–141, div. U, title IV, § 401(a)(179), Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1193.)

§ 1274A. Special rules for certain transactions where stated principal amount does not exceed $2,800,000

(a) Lower discount rate

(b) Qualified debt instrument defined

(1) In general

In the case of any cash method debt instrument—

(A) section 1274 shall not apply, and

(B) interest on such debt instrument shall be taken into account by both the borrower and the lender under the cash receipts and disbursements method of accounting.

(2) Cash method debt instrument

For purposes of paragraph (1), the term “cash method debt instrument” means any qualified debt instrument if—

(A) the stated principal amount does not exceed $2,000,000,

(B) the lender does not use an accrual method of accounting and is not a dealer with respect to the property sold or exchanged,

(D) an election under this subsection is jointly made with respect to such debt instrument by the borrower and lender.

(3) Successors bound by election

(A) In general

(B) Exception where lender transfers debt instrument to accrual method taxpayer

(4) Fair market value rule in potentially abusive situations

(d) Other special rules

(1) Aggregation rules

For purposes of this section—

(A) all sales or exchanges which are part of the same transaction (or a series of related transactions) shall be treated as 1 sale or exchange, and

(B) all debt instruments arising from the same transaction (or a series of related transactions) shall be treated as 1 debt instrument.

(2) Adjustment for inflation

In the case of any debt instrument arising out of a sale or exchange during any calendar year after 1989, each dollar amount contained in the preceding provisions of this section shall be increased by an amount equal to—

(A) such amount, multiplied by

(B) the cost-of-living adjustment determined under section 1(f)(3) for the calendar year in which the taxable year begins, by substituting “calendar year 1988” for “calendar year 2016” in subparagraph (A)(ii) thereof.

Any increase under the preceding sentence shall be rounded to the nearest multiple of $100 (or, if such increase is a multiple of $50, such increase shall be increased to the nearest multiple of $100).

(e) Regulations

The Secretary shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this subsection, including—

(1) regulations coordinating the provisions of this section with other provisions of this title,

(2) regulations necessary to prevent the avoidance of tax through the abuse of the provisions of subsection (c), and

(3) regulations relating to the treatment of transfers of cash method debt instruments.

(Added Pub. L. 99–121, title I, § 102(a), Oct. 11, 1985, 99 Stat. 506; amended Pub. L. 101–508, title XI, § 11813(b)(22), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–555; Pub. L. 104–188, title I, § 1704(t)(62), Aug. 20, 1996, 110 Stat. 1890; Pub. L. 115–97, title I, § 11002(d)(10), Dec. 22, 2017, 131 Stat. 2062.)

§ 1275. Other definitions and special rules

(a) DefinitionsFor purposes of this subpart—

(1) Debt instrument

(A) In general

(B) Exception for certain annuity contractsThe term “debt instrument” shall not include any annuity contract to which section 72 applies and which—

(i) depends (in whole or in substantial part) on the life expectancy of 1 or more individuals, or

(ii) is issued by an insurance company subject to tax under subchapter L (or by an entity described in section 501(c) and exempt from tax under section 501(a) which would be subject to tax under subchapter L were it not so exempt)—(I) in a transaction in which there is no consideration other than cash or another annuity contract meeting the requirements of this clause,(II) pursuant to the exercise of an election under an insurance contract by a beneficiary thereof on the death of the insured party under such contract, or(III) in a transaction involving a qualified pension or employee benefit plan.

(2) Issue date

(A) Publicly offered debt instruments

(B) Issues not publicly offered and not issued for property

(3) Tax-exempt obligationThe term “tax-exempt obligation” means any obligation if—

(A) the interest on such obligation is not includible in gross income under section 103, or

(B) the interest on such obligation is exempt from tax (without regard to the identity of the holder) under any other provision of law.

(4) Treatment of obligations distributed by corporations

(b) Treatment of borrower in the case of certain loans for personal use

(1) Sections 1274 and 483 not to apply

(2) Original issue discount deducted on cash basis in certain casesIn the case of any debt instrument, if—

(A) such instrument—

(i) is incurred in connection with the acquisition or carrying of personal use property, and

(ii) has original issue discount (determined after the application of paragraph (1)), and

(B) the obligor under such instrument uses the cash receipts and disbursements method of accounting,

notwithstanding section 163(e), the original issue discount on such instrument shall be deductible only when paid.

(3) Personal use property

(1) Information required to be set forth on instrument

(A) In generalIn the case of any debt instrument having original issue discount, the Secretary may by regulations require that—

(i) the amount of the original issue discount, and

(ii) the issue date,

be set forth on such instrument.

(B) Special rule for instruments not publicly offered

(2) Information required to be submitted to SecretaryIn the case of any issue of publicly offered debt instruments having original issue discount, the issuer shall (at such time and in such manner as the Secretary shall by regulation prescribe) furnish the Secretary the following information:

(A) The amount of the original issue discount.

(B) The issue date.

For purposes of the preceding sentence, any person who makes a public offering of stripped bonds (or stripped coupons) shall be treated as the issuer of a publicly offered debt instrument having original issue discount.

(3) Exceptions

(4) Cross reference

(d) Regulation authority

(Added and amended Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title I, §§ 41(a), 61(c)(2), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 540, 581; Pub. L. 99–514, title XVIII, § 1804(f)(2)(A), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2805; Pub. L. 100–647, title I, § 1006(u)(4), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3427; Pub. L. 101–508, title XI, § 11325(a)(2), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–466; Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(7) [title III, § 318(c)(1)], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A–645.)