Treasury Regulations · 26 CFR
§ 1.381(c)(1)-2. Net operating loss carryovers; two or more dates of distribution or transfer in the taxable year.
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. § 381(c)(1)
Cite as 26 CFR § 1.381(c)(1)-2
At a glance
Read from the text and its source citation. Not part of the regulation.
- Status
- In the current eCFR
- Source
- T.D. 6500, 25 FR 11402, Nov. 26, 1960; 25 FR 14021, Dec. 21, 1960; T.D. 9989, 89 FR 17606, Mar. 11, 2024, unless otherwise noted.
- Issued under
- 26 U.S.C. § 381(c)(1)
- Length
- 3,030 words · about 13 min to read
- Defines
- 1 term
- Cross-references
- cites 3 Code sections and 1 regulation; cited by 4
(i) X Corporation has taxable income (computed without any net operating loss deduction) of $36,500 for its calendar year 1955. During 1955, X Corporation acquires the assets of Y and Z Corporations in statutory mergers to each of which section 361 applies, the dates of transfer being January 1 and December 1, respectively. The net operating loss carryovers of each transferor corporation and the income for each partial postacquisition year are:
| Corp. | Carryovers | Income for partial years | Reduction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Y | $1,000 | $33,400 ($36,500 × 334/365) | $32,400 |
| Z | 50,000 | 3,000 ($36,500 × 30/365) | 0 |
| 51,000 | 36,400 | 32,400 |
(ii) The limitation provided by section 381(c)(1)(B) equals the postacquisition income of $36,400 reduced by $32,400, the excess of the income for the first partial year ($33,400) over the net operating loss carryovers acquired on the first date of transfer ($1,000). Accordingly, the limitation is $4,000 ($36,400 minus $32,400). Therefore, although X Corporation acquired carryovers aggregating $51,000 during 1955, it can utilize only $4,000 of such carryovers in computing its net operating loss deduction for 1955.
(i) X Corporation has taxable income (computed without any net operating loss deduction) of $36,500 for its calendar year 1955. During 1955, X Corporation acquires the assets of M, N, and Z Corporations in statutory mergers to each of which section 361 applies, the dates of transfer being January 1, January 31, and December 1, respectively. The net operating loss carryovers of each transferor corporation and the income for each partial postacquisition year are:
| Corp. | Carryovers | Income for partial years | Reduction |
|---|---|---|---|
| M | $4,000 | $3,000 ($36,500 × 30/365) | $23,400 |
| N | 6,000 | 30,400 ($36,500 × 304/365) | |
| Z | 50,000 | 3,000 ($36,500 × 30/365) | 0 |
| 60,000 | 36,400 | 23,400 |
(ii) Since the carryovers of $4,000 acquired on the first date of transfer exceed the income for the first partial year ($3,000), the limitation provided by section 381(c)(1)(B) is the amount of the postacquisition income ($36,400) reduced by the excess of the income for the first and second partial years ($33,400) over the carryovers acquired on the first and second dates of transfer ($10,000). Therefore, the limitation is $13,000 ($36,400 less $23,400).
(i) Assume the same facts as in Example (1) except that the amount of the net operating loss carryovers acquired from M Corporation is $1,000. The net operating loss carryovers of each transferor corporation and the income for each partial postacquisition year are:
| Corp. | Carryovers | Income for partial years | Reduction |
|---|---|---|---|
| M | $1,000 | $3,000 ($36,500 × 30/365) | $2,000 |
| N | 6,000 | 30,400 ($36,500 × 304/365) | 24,400 |
| Z | 50,000 | 3,000 ($36,500 × 30/365) | 0 |
| 57,000 | 36,400 | 26,400 |
(ii) Since the income for the first partial year ($3,000) exceeds the $1,000 of carryovers acquired on the first date by $2,000, the limitation provided by section 381(c)(1)(B) is the postacquisition income of $36,400 reduced by such excess and also reduced by the excess of the income for the second partial year ($30,400) over the carryovers acquired on the second date of transfer ($6,000). Therefore, the limitation is $10,000 ($36,400 less the sum of $2,000 and $24,400).
(i) Assume the same facts as in Example (2) except that the carryovers acquired from N Corporation are $75,000. The net operating loss carryovers of each transferor corporation and the income for each partial postacquisition year are:
| Corp. | Carryovers | Income for partial years | Reduction |
|---|---|---|---|
| M | $1,000 | $3,000 ($36,500 × 30/365) | $2,000 |
| N | 75,000 | 30,400 ($36,500 × 304/365) | 0 |
| Z | 50,000 | 3,000 ($36,500 × 30/365) | 0 |
| 126,000 | 36,400 | 2,000 |
(ii) Since the income for the first partial year ($3,000) exceeds the $1,000 of carryovers acquired on the first date by $2,000, the limitation provided by section 381(c)(1)(B) is the postacquisition income of $36,400 reduced by $2,000, or $34,400. No further reduction is made since the income for the second partial year ($30,400) does not exceed the carryovers of $75,000 acquired on the second date of transfer.
(i) X Corporation has taxable income (computed without any net operating loss deduction) of $36,500 for its calendar year 1955. During 1955, X Corporation acquired the assets of M, N, O, Y, and Z Corporations in statutory mergers to each of which section 361 applied, the dates of transfer being, respectively, January 1, January 31, March 3, April 2, and December 1. The net operating loss carryovers of each transferor corporation and the income for each partial postacquisition year are:
| Corp. | Carryovers | Income for partial years | Reduction |
|---|---|---|---|
| M | $1,000 | $3,000 ($36,500 × 30/365) | $2,000 |
| N | 4,000 | 3,100 ($36,500 × 31/365) | |
| O | 1,000 | 3,000 ($36,500 × 30/365) | 1,100 |
| Y | 10,000 | 24,300 ($36,500 × 243/365) | 14,300 |
| Z | 20,000 | 3,000 ($36,500 × 30/365) | 0 |
| 36,000 | 36,400 | 17,400 |
(ii) The limitation provided by section 381(c)(1)(B) equals the postacquisition income of $36,400 reduced by the sum of (a) the $2,000 excess of the income for the first partial year ($3,000) over the carryovers acquired from M Corporation ($1,000), (b) the $1,100 excess of the income for the second and third partial years ($6,100) over the carryovers acquired from N and O Corporations ($5,000), and (c) the $14,300 excess of the income for the fourth partial year ($24,300) over the carryovers acquired from Y Corporation ($10,000). Accordingly, the limitation is $19,000 ($36,400 minus $17,400). Therefore, although X Corporation acquired carryovers aggregating $36,000 during 1955, it can utilize only $19,000 of such carryovers in computing its net operating loss deduction for 1955.
(i) Facts. X Corporation, which was organized on January 1, 1957, sustained a net operating loss of $20,000 for its calendar year 1957 and had taxable income (computed without any net operating loss deduction) of $36,500 for its calendar year 1958. During 1958, X Corporation acquired the assets of Y and Z Corporations in statutory mergers to each of which section 361 applied, the dates of transfer being June 30 and September 30, respectively. None of the modifications specified in section 172(b)(2)(A) apply to any of the corporations for any taxable year. The taxable income (computed without any net operating loss deduction) and net operating losses of Y and Z Corporations (which were organized on January 1, 1957, and January 1, 1954, respectively) are set forth below:
| Taxable year | Acquiring corporation X | Transferor corporation Y | Transferor corporation Z |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | xxx | xxx | ($30,000) |
| 1955 | xxx | xxx | 1,000 |
| 1956 | xxx | xxx | 1,000 |
| 1957 | ($20,000) | ($25,000) | 1,000 |
| Ending 6-30-58 | xxx | 1,000 | xxx |
| Ending 9-30-58 | xxx | xxx | 1,000 |
| 1958 | 36,500 | xxx | xxx |
The sequence in which the losses of the acquiring corporation and the transferor corporations are applied and the computation of the carryovers to X Corporation's calendar year 1959 are illustrated in the following subdivisions of this example.
(ii) Computation of taxable income. X Corporation's taxable income, determined in the manner described in subparagraph (2) of this paragraph, for the preacquisition part year and for the partial postacquisition years is as follows:
| Year | Taxable income | Computation |
|---|---|---|
| Preacquisition part year | $18,100 | $36,500 × 181/365 |
| Partial No. 1 | 9,200 | 36,500 × 92/365 |
| Partial No. 2 | 9,200 | 36,500 × 92/365 |
(iii) Z Corporation's 1954 loss. The carryover to 1959 is $0, computed as follows:
| Net operating loss | $30,000 |
| Less: | |
| Z's 1955, 1956, 1957, and 9/30/58-3 year income | 4,000 |
| Net operating loss carryover to Partial No. 2 year | 26,000 |
| Less: | |
| Partial No. 2 year taxable income | 9,200 |
| 16,800 |
The balance of $16,800 is not carried over to 1959 since X Corporation's taxable year 1958 is the last of the five years to which Z's 1954 loss may be carried under section 172(b)(1).
(iv) Y Corporation's 1957 loss. The carryover to 1959 is $14,800, computed as follows:
| Net operating loss | $25,000 | |
| Less: | ||
| Y's 6/30/58-year income | 1,000 | |
| Net operating loss carryover to Partial No. 1 year | 24,000 | |
| Less: | ||
| Partial No. 1 year taxable income | 9,200 | |
| Carryover to Partial No. 2 year | 14,800 | |
| Less: | ||
| X's Partial No. 2 year taxable income | $9,200 | |
| Minus X's net operating loss deduction for Partial No. 2 year (i.e., Z's 1954 carryover of $26,000 to such partial year) | 26,000 | |
| 0 | ||
| Carryover to 1959 | 14,800 | |
(v) X Corporation's 1957 loss. The carryover to 1959 is $1,900, computed as follows:
| Net operating loss | $20,000 | |
| Less: | ||
| X's preacquisition part year taxable income | 18,100 | |
| Carryover to Partial No. 1 year | 1,900 | |
| Less: | ||
| Partial No. 1 year taxable income | $9,200 | |
| Minus X's net operating loss deduction for Partial No. 1 year (i.e., Y's 1957 carryover of $24,000 to such partial year) | 24,000 | |
| 0 | ||
| Carryover to Partial No. 2 year | 1,900 | |
| Less: | ||
| Partial No. 2 year taxable income | $9,200 | |
| Minus X's net operating loss deduction for Partial No. 2 year (i.e., Z's 1954 carryover of $26,000, and Y's 1957 carryover of $14,800, to such partial year | 40,800 | |
| 0 | ||
| Carryover to 1959 | $1,900 | |
(vi) Summary of carryovers to 1959. The aggregate of the net operating loss carryovers to 1959 is $16,700, computed as follows:
| Z's 1954 loss | xxx |
| Y's 1957 loss | $14,800 |
| X's 1957 loss | 91,900 |
| Total | 16,700 |
Terms defined here
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Cross-references
Computed from the citations in the text of 26 CFR.
Code sections it cites
- § 381 Carryovers in certain corporate acquisitions
- § 361 Nonrecognition of gain or loss to corporations; treatment of distributions
- § 172 Net operating loss deduction
Regulations it cites
Cited by 4 other regulations
Where it sits in 26 CFR
- Subchapter A Income tax
- Part 1 Income taxes
- Carryovers
Nearby sections
- § 1.381(a)-1 General rule relating to carryovers in certain corporate acquisitions.
- § 1.381(b)-1 Operating rules applicable to carryovers in certain corporate acquisitions.
- § 1.381(c)(1)-1 Net operating loss carryovers in certain corporate acquisitions.
- § 1.381(c)(1)-2 Net operating loss carryovers; two or more dates of distribution or transfer in the taxable year.
- § 1.381(c)(2)-1 Earnings and profits.
- § 1.381(c)(3)-1 Capital loss carryovers.
- § 1.381(c)(4)-1 Method of accounting.
- § 1.381(c)(5)-1 Inventory method.