View all text of Subpart D [§ 471 - § 475]
§ 474. Simplified dollar-value LIFO method for certain small businesses
(a) General rule
(b) Simplified dollar-value method of pricing inventoriesFor purposes of this section—
(1) In generalThe simplified dollar-value method of pricing inventories is a dollar-value method of pricing inventories under which—
(A) the taxpayer maintains a separate inventory pool for items in each major category in the applicable Government price index, and
(B) the adjustment for each such separate pool is based on the change from the preceding taxable year in the component of such index for the major category.
(2) Applicable Government price indexThe term “applicable Government price index” means—
(A) except as provided in subparagraph (B), the Producer Price Index published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, or
(B) in the case of a retailer using the retail method, the Consumer Price Index published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
(3) Major categoryThe term “major category” means—
(A) in the case of the Producer Price Index, any of the 2-digit standard industrial classifications in the Producer Prices Data Report, or
(B) in the case of the Consumer Price Index, any of the general expenditure categories in the Consumer Price Index Detailed Report.
(c) Eligible small business
(d) Special rulesFor purposes of this section—
(1) Controlled groups
(A) In general
(B) Controlled group defined
(2) Election
(A) In general
(B) Period to which election appliesThe election under this section shall apply—
(i) to the taxable year for which it is made, and
(ii) to all subsequent taxable years for which the taxpayer is an eligible small business,
unless the taxpayer secures the consent of the Secretary to the revocation of such election.
(3) LIFO method
(4) Transitional rules
(A) In generalIn the case of a year of change under this section—
(i) the inventory pools shall—(I) in the case of the 1st taxable year to which such an election applies, be established in accordance with the major categories in the applicable Government price index, or(II) in the case of the 1st taxable year after such election ceases to apply, be established in the manner provided by regulations under section 472;
(ii) the aggregate dollar amount of the taxpayer’s inventory as of the beginning of the year of change shall be the same as the aggregate dollar value as of the close of the taxable year preceding the year of change, and
(iii) the year of change shall be treated as a new base year in accordance with procedures provided by regulations under section 472.
(B) Year of changeFor purposes of this paragraph, the year of change under this section is—
(i) the 1st taxable year to which an election under this section applies, or
(ii) in the case of a cessation of such an election, the 1st taxable year after such election ceases to apply.
(Added Pub. L. 97–34, title II, § 237(a), Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 252; amended Pub. L. 99–514, title VIII, § 802(a), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2348.)