§ 1.1251-4. Exceptions and limitations.

A, a calendar year taxpayer, makes one disposition of farm recapture property during 1976. On March 2, 1976, A makes a gift to B (also a calendar year taxpayer) of a parcel of land which he had on January 15, 1971. On the date of such disposition, the excess of the fair market value ($65,000) over the adjusted basis of the land ($40,000) is $25,000 and the sum of the deductions allowable in respect of such land under sections 175 and 182 is $21,000 for 1971 and $3,000 (attributable to 1975) for the taxable year of disposition and the four immediately preceding taxable years. Thus, the potential gain (as defined in paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of § 1.1251-1) is limited to $3,000. At the end of 1976 (after making the applicable additions and subtractions under section 1251(b) (2) and (3)(A)), there is a balance in A's excess deductions account of $25,000. However, upon making the gift, A recognizes no gain under section 1251(c)(1) or section 1252(a)(1). See subparagraph (a)(1) of this paragraph and paragraph (a)(1) of § 1.1252-2. For treatment of the land in the hands of B, see example (1) of paragraph (g)(3) of this section. For effect of the gift on the excess deductions accounts of A and B, see paragraph (e)(2) of § 1.1251-2.

Assume the same facts as in example (1), except that A transfers the land to B for $50,000. Thus, the gain realized is $10,000 (amount realized, $50,000, minus adjusted basis $40,000), and A has made a gift of $15,000 (fair market value, $65,000, minus amount realized, $50,000). Since under subparagraph (2)(ii) of this paragraph, the potential gain ($3,000) is lower than the gain realized ($10,000), the gain to which section 1251(c)(1) could apply is limited by subparagraph (2)(ii) of this paragraph to $3,000. Thus, as A has $25,000 in his excess deductions account, $3,000 is recognized as ordinary income under section 1251(c)(1). See example (2) of paragraph (a)(4) of § 1.1252-2 for computation of gain of $7,000 which is recognized as ordinary income by A under section 1252(a)(1). For treatment of the land in the hands of B, see example (2) of paragraph (g)(3) of this section.

(i) A, an individual calendar year taxpayer, makes one disposition of farm recapture property during 1971. On January 20, 1971. A transfers farm recapture property (other than land and section 1245 property), having an adjusted basis of $22,000, to corporation M in exchange for stock in M worth $35,000 plus $15,000 in cash in a transaction qualifying under section 351. Thus, the amount realized is $50,000, and the gain realized is the excess of the amount realized, $50,000, over the adjusted basis, $22,000, or $28,000. Without regard to section 1251, A would recognize gain of $15,000 under section 351(b), and M's basis for the farm recapture property would be determined under section 362(a) by reference to its basis in the hands of A. Assume further that the balance in A's excess deductions account (after making the applicable additions and subtractions under section 1251(b) (2) and (3)(A)) at the close of 1971 is $20,000. Thus, since such balance in the excess deductions account ($20,000) is lower than the gain realized ($28,000), is subparagraph (1) of this paragraph did not apply, gain of $20,000 would be recognized as ordinary income under section 1251(c)(1). However, subparagraph (1) of this paragraph limits the amount of gain to be recognized as ordinary income under section 1251(c)(1) to $15,000.

(ii) If, however, A transferred the farm recapture property to M solely in exchange for stock worth $50,000, then, because of the application of subparagraph (1) of this paragraph he would not recognize any gain under section 1251(c)(1). If, instead, A transferred the farm recapture property to M in exchange for stock worth $25,000 and $25,000 cash, only $20,000 (the amount of such balance in the excess deductions account) of the gain of $25,000 recognized under section 351(b) would be recognized as ordinary income under section 1251(c)(1). The remaining $5,000 of gain recognized under section 351(b) may be treated as gain from the sale or exchange of property described in section 1231. In the hands of M, the property received from A is farm recapture property under the provisions of paragraph (a)(11)(ii) of § 1.1251-3. For treatment of the property received by A in such transaction; see section 1251(d)(6) and paragraph (f) of this section.

Assume the same facts as in subdivision (i) of example (1), except that the farm recapture property is section 1245 property. Assume further than $5,000 is recognized as ordinary income under section 1245(a)(1), and that as of the close of 1971, A has a balance of $15,000 in his excess deductions account (after making the applicable additions and subtractions under section 1251(b) (2) and (3)(A) which, under paragraph (b) of § 1.1251-3, is computed by treating the $5,000 of gain to which section 1245 applies as gross income derived from the trade or business of farming). The amount of gain recognized as ordinary income under section 1251(c)(1) is $10,000, computed as follows:

(i) A, an individual calendar year taxpayer, owns a herd of breeding cattle having an adjusted basis of $75,000 which he acquired on March 30, 1970, A receives insurance proceeds of $90,000. Thus, the gain realized is $15,000 (that is, the excess of the amount realized, $75,000), A makes no other disposition of farm recapture property during 1970. Assume that had the herd been sold at its fair market value on March 15, 1970, no gain would have been recognized as ordinary income under section 1245(a)(1). As of the close of 1970, A has a balance of $12,000 in his excess deductions account (after making the applicable additions and subtractions under section 1251(b) (2) and (3)(A)). Thus, since the balance in the excess deductions account, $12,000, is lower than the gain realized, $15,000, the amount of gain which would be recognized under section 1251(c)(1) (determined without regard to subparagraph (1) of this paragraph) would be $12,000.

(ii) Assume further that A spends $72,000 of the insurance proceeds to purchase another breeding herd, $10,000 to purchase stock in the acquisition of control of a corporation which owns property similar or related in service or use to the destroyed breeding herd, and retains cash of $8,000. Both of the acquisitions by A qualify under section 1033(a)(3)(A), and A properly elects under section 1033(a)(3)(A) and the regulations thereunder to limit recognition of gain to $8,000 (that is, the amount by which the amount realized from the conversion, $90,000 exceeds the cost of the stock and other property acquired to replace the converted property, $72,000 plus $10,000). Thus, since $8,000 is the amount of gain which would be recognized under section 1033(a)(3) (determined without regard to section 1251), and since that amount is lower than the gain of $12,000 which would be recognized under section 1251(c)(1) (determined without regard to subparagraph (1) of this paragraph), under subparagraph (1) of this paragraph the amount of gain recognized under section 1251(c)(1) is limited to $8,000. The stock purchased for $10,000 qualifies under paragraph (a)(1)(ii)(b) of § 1.1251-3 as farm recapture property.

(i) A, an individual calendar year taxpayer, owns land which he had acquired on March 7, 1970, having an adjusted basis of $48,000, and a fair market value of $67,500. On January 15, 1975, A, as a result of a condemnation action, receives $67,500 (its fair market value) for the land. The aggregate of the deductions allowable in respect of such land under sections 175 and 182 is $18,000, with $5,000 of such aggregate attributable to 1970 and $13,000 of such aggregate attributable to 1970 and $13,000 of such aggregate attributable to 1975 and the four preceding taxable years. Thus, the potential gain (as defined in paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of § 1.1251-1) is limited to $13,000, since that amount is lower than $19,500 (the excess of the fair market value of the land, $67,500, over its adjusted basis, $48,000). The gain realized by A is also $19,500. At the end of A's taxable year (after making the applicable additions and subtractions under section 1251(b) (2) and (3)(A)) there is a balance of $21,000 in the excess deductions account of A. Since the potential gain, $13,000, is lower than both the excess deductions account balance, $21,000, and the gain realized, $19,500, A would recognize $13,000 as ordinary income under section 1251(c)(1) (determined without regard to subparagraph (1) of this paragraph).

(ii) Assume further that A spends the entire amount received, $67,500, to purchase stock in the acquisition of control of a corporation which owns property similar or related in service or use to A's condemned land which qualifies under section 1033(a)(3)(A), and A properly elects under section 1033(a)(3)(A) and the regulations thereunder to limit recognition of gain to zero (that is, the amount by which the amount realized from the conversion, $67,500, exceeds the cost of the stock acquired to replace the converted land, $67,500). Thus, since no gain would be recognized under section 1033(a)(3) (determined without regard to section 1251), under subparagraph (1) of this paragraph, no gain is recognized under section 1251(c)(1). The stock purchased for $67,500 qualifies under paragraph (a)(1)(ii)(b) of § 1.1251-3 as farm recapture property. See example (1) of paragraph (d)(2) of § 1.1252-2 for a computation of gain recognized as ordinary income under section 1252(a)(1).

B, an individual calendar year taxpayer, owns a herd of breeding cattle having an adjusted basis of $25,000 which he acquired on March 30, 1970. On March 15, 1976, the entire herd is destroyed by a blizzard and on March 20, 1976, B receives insurance proceeds of $90,000. Thus, the gain realized is $65,000 (that is, the excess of the amount realized, $90,000, over the adjusted basis, $25,000). B makes no other disposition of farm recapture property during 1976. B spends $60,000 of the insurance proceeds to purchase another breeding herd and retains cash of $30,000. The acquisition by B qualifies under section 1033(a)(3)(A), and B properly elects under section 1033(a)(3)(A) and the regulations thereunder to limit recognition of gain to $30,000 (that is, the amount by which the amount realized from the conversion, $90,000, exceeds the cost of the property acquired to replace the converted property, $60,000). Assume that the amount of gain recognized under section 1245(a)(1) is $20,000, and that as of the close of 1976 B has a balance of $100,000 in his excess deductions account (after making the applicable additions and subtractions under section 1251(b) (2) and (3)(A) which, under paragraph (b) of § 1.1251-3, is computed by treating the $20,000 of gain to which section 1245 applies as gross income derived from the trade or business of farming). The amount of gain recognized as ordinary income under section 1251(c)(1) is $10,000, computed as follows:

Assume the same facts as in example (1) of paragraph (a)(4) of this section. Therefore, on the date B receives the land in the gift transaction, under subparagraph (1) (i) and (ii) of this paragraph, the aggregate of the deductions allowable under sections 175 and 182 in respect of the land in the hands of B is the amount in the hands of A, $24,000, and for purposes of applying section 1251 upon a subsequent disposition by B (including the computation of potential gain) such deductions in the hands of B shall be treated as allowable in the same year as they were allowable to A. Thus, in respect to the land in the hands of B, the allowable section 175 and 182 deductions of $3,000 shall be treated as allowable in 1975.

Assume the same facts as in example (2) of Paragraph (a)(4) of this section. Under paragraph (2) of this paragraph, the aggregate of the allowable sections 175 and 182 deductions with respect to the land which pass over to B for purposes of section 1251 is zero ($3,000 deduction allowable under sections 175 and 182 for the taxable year and the four preceding taxable years minus $3,000 gain taken into account by A in accordance with example (2) of paragraph (a)(4) of this section).