Internal Revenue Code · 26 U.S.C.
§ 1234. Options to buy or sell
Official text, no changes From the Office of the Law Revision Counsel, release point 119-121 (current through Public Law 119-121 (October 9, 2026)). Compare it with the official text at uscode.house.gov (external site).
Cite as 26 U.S.C. § 1234
At a glance
Read from the text, the source credit and the official notes. Not part of the law.
- Status
- In force
- Enacted
- September 2, 1958 by Pub. L. 85–866
- Last amended
- December 17, 1999 by Pub. L. 106–170
- Amendments
- 4 dated changes in the source credit
- Length
- 3 subsections · 546 words · about 2 min to read
- Defines
- 3 terms
- Cross-references
- cites 3; cited by 2 Code sections and 5 other regulations
- Regulations
- 4 issued under this section
Gain or loss attributable to the sale or exchange of, or loss attributable to failure to exercise, an option to buy or sell property shall be considered gain or loss from the sale or exchange of property which has the same character as the property to which the option relates has in the hands of the taxpayer (or would have in the hands of the taxpayer if acquired by him).
For purposes of paragraph (1), if loss is attributable to failure to exercise an option, the option shall be deemed to have been sold or exchanged on the day it expired.
In the case of the grantor of the option, gain or loss from any closing transaction with respect to, and gain on lapse of, an option in property shall be treated as a gain or loss from the sale or exchange of a capital asset held not more than 1 year.
The term “closing transaction” means any termination of the taxpayer’s obligation under an option in property other than through the exercise or lapse of the option.
The term “property” means stocks and securities (including stocks and securities dealt with on a “when issued” basis), commodities, and commodity futures.
This subsection shall not apply to any option granted in the ordinary course of the taxpayer’s trade or business of granting options.
Gain or loss shall be recognized on the exercise of an option on a section 1256 contract (within the meaning of section 1256(b)).
For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term “cash settlement option” means any option which on exercise settles in (or could be settled in) cash or property other than the underlying property.
(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 376, 68A Stat. 329; Pub. L. 85–866, title I, § 53, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1644; Pub. L. 89–809, title II, § 210(a), Nov. 13, 1966, 80 Stat. 1580; Pub. L. 94–455, title XIV, § 1402(b)(1)(U), (2), title XXI, § 2136(a), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1732, 1929; Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title I, § 105(a), title X, § 1001(b)(18), (e), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 629, 1012; Pub. L. 106–170, title V, § 532(c)(1)(H), Dec. 17, 1999, 113 Stat. 1930.)
Terms defined here
Where the text says “the term … means”. Select a term to jump to its definition.
Regulations under this section
Treasury regulations (26 CFR) issued under § 1234
Cross-references
Computed from the citations in the text of Title 26 and 26 CFR.
This section cites 3 other sections
- § 1221(a) Capital asset defined
- § 1233(c) Gains and losses from short sales
- § 1256 Section 1256 contracts marked to market
Cited by 2 Code sections
Cited in 5 regulations not issued under it
Amendment history
From the source credit and the official notes, newest first.
Where it sits in the Code
- Subtitle A Income Taxes
- Chapter 1 NORMAL TAXES AND SURTAXES
- Subchapter P Capital Gains and Losses
- Part IV SPECIAL RULES FOR DETERMINING CAPITAL GAINS AND LOSSES
Nearby sections
- § 1231 Property used in the trade or business and involuntary conversions
- § 1232–1232B Repealed
- § 1233 Gains and losses from short sales
- § 1234 Options to buy or sell
- § 1234A Gains or losses from certain terminations
- § 1234B Gains or losses from securities futures contracts
- § 1235 Sale or exchange of patents
- § 1236 Dealers in securities
Official notes
Show the Law Revision Counsel's notes (amendments, effective dates)
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1999—Subsec. (a)(3)(A). Pub. L. 106–170 substituted “section 1221(a)” for “section 1221”.
1984—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 98–369, § 1001(b)(18), (e), substituted “6 months” for “1 year”, applicable to property acquired after June 22, 1984, and before Jan. 1, 1988. See Effective Date of 1984 Amendment note below.
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 98–369, § 105(a), added subsec. (c).
1976—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 94–455, § 2136(a), inserted in heading “in the case of the purchaser”; designated existing provisions as par. “(1) General rule” and substituted “an option” and “the option” for “a privilege or option” and “the option or privilege”; redesignated existing subsec. (b) as par. (2) and substituted “an option” and “the option” for “a privilege or option” and “the privilege or option”; and redesignated existing subsec. (d)(1) to (3) as par. (3)(A) to (C) and substituted in heading and introductory text “Nonapplication” and “subsection” for “Non-application” and “section”, in par. (3)(A) “an option” for “a privilege or option”, in par. (3)(B) “an option”, “such option” and “subsection” for “a privilege or option”, “such privilege or option” and “section” and in par. (3)(C) substituted a period for “; or”.
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 94–455, § 2136(a), added subsec. (b), incorporating provisions of a prior subsec. (c) providing for a special rule for grantors of straddles, par. (1) relating to “gain on lapse” and reading “In the case of gain on lapse of an option granted by the taxpayer as part of a straddle, the gain shall be deemed to be gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset held for not more than 6 months on the day that the option expired.”; par. (2) relating to “exception” and reading “This subsection shall not apply to any person who holds securities for sale to customers in the ordinary course of his trade or business.”, now covered in subsec. (b)(3); and par. (3) relating to definitions of “straddle” and “security”.
Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 94–455, § 1402(b)(2), provided that “9 months” would be changed to “1 year”.
Pub. L. 94–455, § 1402(b)(1)(U), provided that “6 months” would be changed to “9 months” for taxable years beginning in 1977.
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 94–455, § 2136(a), struck out provision respecting special rule for grantors of straddles, the paragraphs relating to: (1) gain on lapse; (2) exception, now covered in subsec. (b)(3); and (3) definitions of “straddle” and “security”, such provision now covered generally by subsec. (b) of this section.
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 94–455, § 2136(a), struck out provision respecting non-application of section, pars. (1) to (3) now covered in subsec. (a)(3)(A) to (C) of this section, and par. (4) providing for such non-application to gain attributable to the sale or exchange of a privilege or option acquired by the taxpayer before Mar. 1, 1954, if in the hands of the taxpayer such privilege or option was a capital asset.
1966—Subsecs. (c), (d). Pub. L. 89–809 added subsec. (c) and redesignated former subsec. (c) as (d).
1958—Pub. L. 85–866 amended section generally and among other changes provided in subsec. (a) that gain or loss resulting from option to buy or sell property is to be considered gain or loss arising from property which has the same character as the property underlying the option, incorporated existing provisions in subsecs. (b) and (c)(3), and inserted provisions set out in subsec. (c)(1), (2), (4).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1999 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 106–170 applicable to any instrument held, acquired, or entered into, any transaction entered into, and supplies held or acquired on or after Dec. 17, 1999, see section 532(d) of Pub. L. 106–170, set out as a note under section 170 of this title.
Effective Date of 1984 Amendment
Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title I, § 105(b), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 629, provided that: “The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply to options purchased or granted after October 31, 1983, in taxable years ending after such date.”
Amendment by section 1001(b)(18) of Pub. L. 98–369 applicable to property acquired after June 22, 1984, and before Jan. 1, 1988, see section 1001(e) of Pub. L. 98–369, set out as a note under section 166 of this title.
Effective Date of 1976 Amendment
Pub. L. 94–455, title XIV, § 1402(b)(1), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1731, provided that the amendment made by that section is effective with respect to taxable years beginning in 1977.
Pub. L. 94–455, title XIV, § 1402(b)(2), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1732, provided that the amendment made by that section is effective with respect to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1977.
Pub. L. 94–455, title XXI, § 2136(b), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1930, provided that: “The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply to options granted after September 1, 1976.”
Effective Date of 1966 Amendment
Pub. L. 89–809, title II, § 210(b), Nov. 13, 1966, 80 Stat. 1580, provided that: “The amendments made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply to straddle transactions entered into after January 25, 1965, in taxable years ending after such date.”
Effective Date of 1958 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 85–866 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1953, and ending after Aug. 16, 1954, see section 1(c)(1) of Pub. L. 85–866, set out as a note under section 165 of this title.