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Treasury Regulations · 26 CFR

§ 1.172-2. Net operating loss in case of a corporation.

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. § 172

Cite as 26 CFR § 1.172-2

At a glance

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

Status
In the current eCFR
Issued
December 2, 1986 by T.D. 8107
Issued under
26 U.S.C. § 172
Length
466 words · about 2 min to read
Cross-references
cites 9 Code sections and 1 regulation; cited by 2
(a) Modification of deductions. A net operating loss is sustained by a corporation in any taxable year if and to the extent that, for such year, there is an excess of deductions allowed by chapter 1 of the Code over gross income computed thereunder. In determining the excess of deductions over gross income for such purpose—
(1) Items not deductible. No deduction shall be allowed under—
(i) Section 172 for the net operating loss deduction, and
(ii) Section 922 in respect of Western Hemisphere trade corporations;
(2) Dividends received. The 85-percent limitation provided by section 246(b) shall not apply to the deductions otherwise allowed under—
(i) Section 243(a) in respect of dividends received from domestic corporations.
(ii) Section 244 in respect of dividends received on preferred stock of public utilities, and
(iii) Section 245 in respect of dividends received from foreign corporations; and
(3) Dividends paid. The deduction granted by section 247 in respect of dividends paid on the preferred stock of public utilities shall be computed without regard to subsection (a)(1)(B) of Section 247.
(b) Example. The following example illustrates the application of paragraph (a):
Example.

For the calendar year 1981, the X corporation has a gross income of $400,000 and total deductions allowed by chapter 1 of the Code of $375,000 exclusive of any net operating loss deduction and exclusive of any deduction for dividends received or paid. Corporation X in 1981 received $100,000 of dividends entitled to the benefits of section 243(a). These dividends are included in Corporation X's $400,000 gross income. Corporation X has no other deductions to which section 172(d) applies. On the basis of these facts, Corporation X has a net operating loss for the year 1981 of $60,000, computed as follows:

Deductions for 1981$375,000
Plus: Deduction for dividends received, computed without regard to the limitation provided in section 246(b) (85% of $100,000)85,000
Total460,000
Less: Gross income for 1981 (including $100,000 dividends)400,000
Net operating loss for 198160,000
(c) Qualified real estate investment trusts. For taxable years ending after October 4, 1976, the net operating loss of a qualified real estate investment trust (as defined in § 1.172-10(b)) is computed by taking into account the adjustments described in section 857(b)(2) (other than the deduction for dividends paid, as defined in section 561), as well as the modifications required by paragraph (a)(1) of this section. Thus, for example, the special deductions for dividends received, etc., provided in part VIII of subchapter B (other than section 248), as well as the net operating loss deduction under section 172, are not allowed in computing the net operating loss of a qualified real estate investment trust.

[T.D. 8107, 51 FR 43345, Dec. 2, 1986]

Other regulations under § 172

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. Issued by T.D. 8107 (51 FR 43345)

Where it sits in 26 CFR

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

Nearby sections