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Treasury Regulations · 26 CFR

§ 1.166-4. Reserve for bad debts.

In effect eCFR current as of October 15, 2026

Regulation text, no changes From the eCFR, current as of October 15, 2026. The eCFR is an authoritative but unofficial editorial compilation of the Code of Federal Regulations; the official text is the annual CFR on govinfo. Compare it with this section on ecfr.gov (external site) or the official annual CFR on govinfo (external site).

Regulation under 26 U.S.C. § 166

Cite as 26 CFR § 1.166-4

At a glance

Read from the text and its source citation. Not part of the regulation.

Status
In the current eCFR
Issued
November 26, 1960 by T.D. 6500
Last amended
March 14, 2019 by T.D. 9849
Issued under
26 U.S.C. § 166
Length
514 words · about 2 min to read
Cross-references
cites 1 Code section and 3 regulations; cited by 2
(a) Allowance of deduction. A taxpayer who has established the reserve method of treating bad debts and has maintained proper reserve accounts for bad debts or who, in accordance with paragraph (b) of § 1.166-1, adopts the reserve method of treating bad debts may deduct from gross income a reasonable addition to a reserve for bad debts in lieu of deducting specific bad debt items. This paragraph applies both to bad debts owed to the taxpayer and to bad debts arising out of section 166(f)(1)(A) guaranteed debt obligations. If a reserve is maintained for bad debts arising out of section 166(f)(1)(A) guaranteed debt obligations, then a separate reserve must also be maintained for all other debt obligations of the taxpayer in the same trade or business, if any. A taxpayer may not maintain a reserve for bad debts arising out of section 166(f)(1)(A) guaranteed debt obligations if with respect to direct debt obligations in the same trade or business the taxpayer takes deductions when the debts become worthless in whole or in part rather than maintaining a reserve for such obligations. See § 1.166-10 for rules concerning section 166(f)(1)(A) guaranteed debt obligations.
(b) Reasonableness of addition to reserve—
(1) Relevant factors. What constitutes a reasonable addition to a reserve for bad debts shall be determined in the light of the facts existing at the close of the taxable year of the proposed addition. The reasonableness of the addition will vary as between classes of business and with conditions of business prosperity. It will depend primarily upon the total amount of debts outstanding as of the close of the taxable year, including those arising currently as well as those arising in prior taxable years, and the total amount of the existing reserve.
(2) Correction of errors in prior estimates. In the event that subsequent realizations upon outstanding debts prove to be more or less than estimated at the time of the creation of the existing reserve, the amount of the excess or inadequacy in the existing reserve shall be reflected in the determination of the reasonable addition necessary in the current taxable year.
(c) Statement required. A taxpayer using the reserve method shall file with his return a statement showing—
(1) The volume of his charge sales or other business transactions for the taxable year and the percentage of the reserve to such amount;
(2) The total amount of notes and accounts receivable at the beginning and close of the taxable year;
(3) The amount of the debts which have become wholly or partially worthless and have been charged against the reserve account; and
(4) The computation of the addition to the reserve for bad debts.
(d) Special rules applicable to financial institutions. For special rules for the addition to the bad debt reserves of certain banks, see §§ 1.585-1 through 1.585-3.

[T.D. 6500, 25 FR 11402, Nov. 26, 1960, as amended by T.D. 6728, 29 FR 5855, May 5, 1964; T.D. 7444, 41 FR 53481, Dec. 7, 1976; T.D. 8071, 51 FR 2479, Jan. 17, 1986; T.D. 9849, 84 FR 9233, Mar. 14, 2019]

Other regulations under § 166

Cross-references

Computed from the citations in the text of 26 CFR.

Code sections it cites

Regulations it cites

Cited by 2 other regulations

Amendment history

From the source citation at the end of the section, newest first. T.D. is a Treasury decision; FR is the Federal Register.

  1. Amended by T.D. 9849 (84 FR 9233)
  2. Amended by T.D. 8071 (51 FR 2479)
  3. Amended by T.D. 7444 (41 FR 53481)
  4. Amended by T.D. 6728 (29 FR 5855)
  5. Issued by T.D. 6500 (25 FR 11402)

Where it sits in 26 CFR

  1. Subchapter A Income tax
  2. Part 1 Income taxes
  3. Itemized Deductions for Individuals and Corporations

Nearby sections