Treasury Regulations · 26 CFR
§ 1.338-7. Allocation of redetermined ADSP and AGUB among target assets.
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. § 338
Cite as 26 CFR § 1.338-7
At a glance
Read from the text and its source citation. Not part of the regulation.
- Status
- In the current eCFR
- Issued
- February 13, 2001 by T.D. 8940
- Issued under
- 26 U.S.C. § 338
- Length
- 3,087 words · about 13 min to read
- Cross-references
- cites 5 Code sections and 4 regulations; cited by 6
(i)(A) T's assets other than goodwill and going concern value, and their fair market values at the beginning of the day after the acquisition date, are as follows:
| Asset class | Asset | Fair market value |
|---|---|---|
| V | Building | $ 100 |
| V | Stock of X (not a target) | 200 |
| Total | 300 |
(B) T has no liabilities other than a contingent liability that would not be taken into account under general principles of tax law in an asset sale between unrelated parties when the buyer assumed the liability or took property subject to it.
(ii)(A) On September 1, 2000, P purchases all of the outstanding stock of T for $270 and makes a section 338 election for T. The grossed-up basis of the T stock and T's AGUB are both $270. The AGUB is ratably allocated among T's Class V assets in proportion to their fair market values as follows:
| Asset | Basis |
|---|---|
| Building ($270 × 100/300) | $90 |
| Stock ($270 × 200/300) | 180 |
| Total | 270 |
(B) No amount is allocated to the Class VII assets. New T is a calendar year taxpayer. Assume that the X stock is a capital asset in the hands of new T.
(iii) On January 1, 2001, new T sells the X stock and uses the proceeds to purchase inventory.
(iv) Pursuant to events on June 30, 2002, the contingent liability of old T is at that time properly taken into account under general principles of tax law. The amount of the liability is $60.
(v) T's AGUB increases by $60 from $270 to $330. This $60 increase in AGUB is first allocated among T's acquisition date assets in accordance with the provisions of § 1.338-6. Because the redetermined AGUB for T ($330) exceeds the sum of the fair market values at the beginning of the day after the acquisition date of the Class V acquisition date assets ($300), AGUB allocated to those assets is limited to those fair market values under § 1.338-6(c)(1). As there are no Class VI assets, the remaining AGUB of $30 is allocated to goodwill and going concern value (Class VII assets). The amount of increase in AGUB allocated to each acquisition date asset is determined as follows:
| Asset | Original AGUB | Redetermined AGUB | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building | $90 | $100 | $10 |
| X Stock | 180 | 200 | 20 |
| Goodwill and going concern value | 0 | 30 | 30 |
| Total | 270 | 330 | 60 |
(vi) Since the X stock was disposed of before the contingent liability was properly taken into account for tax purposes, no amount of the increase in AGUB attributable to such stock may be allocated to any T asset. Rather, such amount ($20) is allowed as a capital loss to T for the taxable year 2002 under the principles of Arrowsmith v. Commissioner, 344 U.S. 6 (1952). In addition, the $10 increase in AGUB allocated to the building and the $30 increase in AGUB allocated to the goodwill and going concern value are treated as basis redeterminations in 2002. See paragraph (d)(1) of this section.
(i) On January 1, 2002, P purchases all of the outstanding stock of T and makes a section 338 election for T. Assume that ADSP and AGUB of T are both $500 and are allocated among T's acquisition date assets as follows:
| Asset Class | Asset | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| V | Machinery | $150 |
| V | Land | 250 |
| VII | Goodwill and going concern value | 100 |
| Total | 500 |
(ii) On September 30, 2004, P filed a claim against the selling shareholders of T in a court of appropriate jurisdiction alleging fraud in the sale of the T stock.
(iii) On January 1, 2007, the former shareholders refund $140 of the purchase price to P in a settlement of the lawsuit. Assume that, under general principles of tax law, both the seller and the buyer properly take into account such refund when paid. Assume also that the refund has no effect on the tax liability for the deemed sale tax consequences. This refund results in a decrease of T's ADSP and AGUB of $140, from $500 to $360.
(iv) The redetermined ADSP and AGUB of $360 is allocated among T's acquisition date assets. Because ADSP and AGUB do not exceed the fair market value of the Class V assets, the ADSP and AGUB amounts are allocated to the Class V assets in proportion to their fair market values at the beginning of the day after the acquisition date. Thus, $135 ($150 × ($360/($150 + $250))) is allocated to the machinery and $225 ($250 × ($360/($150 + $250))) is allocated to the land. Accordingly, the basis of the machinery is reduced by $15 ($150 original allocation—$135 redetermined allocation) and the basis of the land is reduced by $25 ($250 original allocation—$225 redetermined allocation). No amount is allocated to the Class VII assets. Accordingly, the basis of the goodwill and going concern value is reduced by $100 ($100 original allocation—$0 redetermined allocation).
(v) Assume that, as a result of deductions under section 168, the adjusted basis of the machinery immediately before the decrease in AGUB is zero. The machinery is treated as if it were disposed of before the decrease is taken into account. In 2007, T recognizes income of $15, the character of which is determined under the principles of Arrowsmith v. Commissioner and the tax benefit rule. No adjustment to the basis of T's assets is made for any tax paid on this amount. Assume also that, as a result of amortization deductions, the adjusted basis of the goodwill and going concern value immediately before the decrease in AGUB is $40. A similar adjustment to income is made in 2007 with respect to the $60 of previously amortized goodwill and going concern value.
(vi) In summary, the basis of T's acquisition date assets, as of January 1, 2007, is as follows:
| Asset | Basis |
|---|---|
| Machinery | $0 |
| Land | 225 |
| Goodwill and going concern value | 0 |
(i) Assume that the facts are the same as § 1.338-6(d) Example 2 except that the recently purchased stock is acquired for $1,600 plus additional payments that are contingent upon T's future earnings. Assume that, under general principles of tax law, such later payments are properly taken into account when paid. Thus, T's AGUB, determined as of the beginning of the day after the acquisition date (after reduction by T's cash of $200), is $2,500 and is allocated among T's acquisition date assets under § 1.338-6(c)(3)(iii) as follows:
| Class | Asset | Final allocation |
|---|---|---|
| I | Cash | $200 |
| II | Portfolio of actively traded securities | *268 |
| III | Accounts receivable | 536 |
| IV | Inventory | 268 |
| V | Building | 714 |
| V | Land | 178 |
| V | Investment in T1 | 402 |
| VII | Goodwill and going concern value | 134 |
| Total | 2,700 | |
| * All numbers rounded for convenience. | ||
(ii) At a later point in time, P pays an additional $200 for its recently purchased T stock. Assume that the additional consideration paid would not increase T's tax liability for the deemed sale tax consequences.
(iii) T's AGUB increases by $200, from $2,700 to $2,900. This $200 increase in AGUB is accounted for in accordance with the provisions of § 1.338-6(c)(3)(iii).
(iv) The hypothetical purchase price of the T stock is redetermined as follows:
| Grossed-up basis of recently purchased stock as determined under § 1.338-5(c) ($1,800 × (1− .2)/.8) | $1,800 |
| Basis of nonrecently purchased stock as if the gain recognition election under § 1.338-5(d)(2) had been made ($1,800 × .2/(1− .2)) | 450 |
| Liabilities | 1,000 |
| Total | 3,250 |
(v) Since the redetermined hypothetical purchase price ($3,250) exceeds the redetermined AGUB ($2,900) and no gain recognition election was made under section 338(b)(3), the rules of § 1.338-6(c)(3)(iii) are reapplied using the redetermined hypothetical purchase price and the redetermined AGUB.
(vi) First, an AGUB amount equal to the redetermined hypothetical purchase price ($3,250) is allocated among the assets under the general rules of § 1.338-6. The allocation is set forth in the column below entitled Hypothetical Allocation. Next, the allocation to each asset in Class II through Class VII is multiplied by a fraction with a numerator equal to the actual redetermined AGUB reduced by the amount of Class I assets ($2,900 − $200 = $2,700) and a denominator equal to the redetermined hypothetical purchase price reduced by the amount of Class I assets ($3,250 − $200 = $3,050), or 2,700/3,050. This produces the Final Allocation:
| Class | Asset | Hypothetical allocation | Final allocation |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | Cash | $200 | $200 |
| II | Portfolio of actively traded securities | 300 | *266 |
| III | Accounts receivable | 600 | 531 |
| IV | Inventory | 300 | 266 |
| V | Building | 800 | 708 |
| V | Land | 200 | 177 |
| V | Investment in T1 | 450 | 398 |
| VII | Goodwill and going concern value | 400 | 354 |
| Total | 3,250 | 2900 | |
| * All numbers rounded for convenience. | |||
(vii) As illustrated by this example, reapplying § 1.338-6(c)(3) results in a basis increase for some assets and a basis decrease for other assets. The amount of redetermined AGUB allocated to each acquisition date asset is determined as follows:
| Asset | Original (c)(3) allocation | Redetermined (c)(3) allocation | Increase (decrease) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portfolio of actively traded securities | $268 | $266 | $(2) |
| Accounts receivable | 536 | 531 | (5) |
| Inventory | 268 | 266 | (2) |
| Building | 714 | 708 | (6) |
| Land | 178 | 177 | (1) |
| Investment in T1 | 402 | 398 | (4) |
| Goodwill and going concern value | 134 | 354 | 220 |
| Total | 2,500 | 2,700 | 200 |
(i) On January 1, 2001, P purchases all of the outstanding T stock and makes a section 338 election for T. P pays $700 of cash and promises also to pay a maximum $300 of contingent consideration at various times in the future. Assume that, under general principles of tax law, such later payments are properly taken into account by P when paid. Assume also, however, that the current fair market value of the contingent payments is reasonably ascertainable. The fair market value of T's assets (other than goodwill and going concern value) as of the beginning of the following day is as follows:
| Asset class | Assets | Fair market value |
|---|---|---|
| V | Equipment | $200 |
| V | Non-actively traded securities | 100 |
| V | Building | 500 |
| Total | 800 |
(ii) T has no liabilities. The AGUB is $700. In calculating ADSP, assume that, under § 1.1001-1, the current amount realized attributable to the contingent consideration is $200. ADSP is therefore $900 ($700 cash plus $200).
(iii) (A) The AGUB of $700 is ratably allocated among T's Class V acquisition date assets in proportion to their fair market values as follows:
| Asset | Basis |
|---|---|
| Equipment ($700 × 200/800) | $175.00 |
| Non-actively traded securities ($700 × 100/800) | 87.50 |
| Building ($700 × 500/800) | 437.50 |
| Total | 700.00 |
(B) No amount is allocated to goodwill or going concern value.
(iv) (A) The ADSP of $900 is ratably allocated among T's Class V acquisition date assets in proportion to their fair market values as follows:
| Asset | Basis |
|---|---|
| Equipment | $200 |
| Non-actively traded securities | 100 |
| Building | 500 |
| Total | 800 |
(B) The remaining ADSP, $100, is allocated to goodwill and going concern value (Class VII).
(v) P and T file a consolidated return for 2001 and each following year with P as the common parent of the affiliated group.
(vi) In 2004, a contingent amount of $120 is paid by P. For old T, this payment has no effect on ADSP, because the payment is accounted for as a separate transaction. We have assumed that, under general principles of tax law, the payment is properly taken into account by P at the time made. Therefore, in 2004, there is an increase in new T's AGUB of $120. The amount of the increase allocated to each acquisition date asset is determined as follows:
| Asset | Original AGUB | Redetermined AGUB | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equipment | $175.00 | $200.00 | $25.00 |
| Land | 87.50 | 100.00 | 12.50 |
| Building | 437.50 | 500.00 | 62.50 |
| Goodwill and going concern value | 0.00 | 20.00 | 20.00 |
| Total | 700.00 | 820.00 | 120.00 |
[T.D. 8940, 66 FR 9929, Feb. 13, 2001]
Cross-references
Computed from the citations in the text of 26 CFR.
Code sections it cites
- § 338 Certain stock purchases treated as asset acquisitions
- § 1245 Gain from dispositions of certain depreciable property
- § 172 Net operating loss deduction
- § 38 General business credit
- § 168 Accelerated cost recovery system
Regulations it cites
- § 1.338-6 Allocation of ADSP and AGUB among target assets.
- § 1.483-4 Contingent payments.
- § 1.338-5 Adjusted grossed-up basis.
- § 1.1001-1 Computation of gain or loss.
Cited by 6 other regulations
- § 1.336-3 Aggregate deemed asset disposition price; various aspects of taxation of the deemed asset disposition.
- § 1.336-4 Adjusted grossed-up basis.
- § 1.338-0 Outline of topics.
- § 1.338-4 Aggregate deemed sale price; various aspects of taxation of the deemed asset sale.
- § 1.338-5 Adjusted grossed-up basis.
- § 1.597-2 Taxation of FFA.
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.
- Issued by T.D. 8940 (66 FR 9929)
Where it sits in 26 CFR
- Subchapter A Income tax
- Part 1 Income taxes
- Effects on corporation
Nearby sections
- § 1.338-3 Qualification for the section 338 election.
- § 1.338-4 Aggregate deemed sale price; various aspects of taxation of the deemed asset sale.
- § 1.338-5 Adjusted grossed-up basis.
- § 1.338-6 Allocation of ADSP and AGUB among target assets.
- § 1.338-7 Allocation of redetermined ADSP and AGUB among target assets.
- § 1.338-8 Asset and stock consistency.
- § 1.338-9 International aspects of section 338.
- § 1.338-10 Filing of returns.
- § 1.338-11 Effect of section 338 election on insurance company targets.