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Internal Revenue Code · 26 U.S.C.

§ 1236. Dealers in securities

In force Text current through Public Law 119-121 (October 9, 2026) release point 119-121

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. § 1236

At a glance

Read from the text, the source credit and the official notes. Not part of the law.

Status
In force
Enacted
October 4, 1976 by Pub. L. 94–455
Last amended
December 19, 2014 by Pub. L. 113–295
Amendments
4 dated changes in the source credit
Length
5 subsections · 497 words · about 2 min to read
Defines
3 terms
Cross-references
cites 1; cited by 4 Code sections and 11 other regulations
Regulations
1 issued under this section
(a) Capital gains Gain by a dealer in securities from the sale or exchange of any security shall in no event be considered as gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset unless—
(1) the security was, before the close of the day on which it was acquired (or such earlier time as the Secretary may prescribe by regulations), clearly identified in the dealer’s records as a security held for investment; and
(2) the security was not, at any time after the close of such day (or such earlier time), held by such dealer primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of his trade or business.
(b) Ordinary losses

Loss by a dealer in securities from the sale or exchange of any security shall, except as otherwise provided in section 582(c), (relating to bond, etc., losses of banks), in no event be considered as ordinary loss if at any time the security was clearly identified in the dealer’s records as a security held for investment.

(c) Definition of security

For purposes of this section, the term “security” means any share of stock in any corporation, certificate of stock or interest in any corporation, note, bond, debenture, or evidence of indebtedness, or any evidence of an interest in or right to subscribe to or purchase any of the foregoing.

(d) Special rule for floor specialists
(1) In general In the case of a floor specialist (but only with respect to acquisitions, in connection with his duties on an exchange, of stock in which the specialist is registered with the exchange), subsection (a) shall be applied—
(A) by inserting “the 7th business day following” before “the day” the first place it appears in paragraph (1) and by inserting “7th business” before “day” in paragraph (2), and
(B) by striking the parenthetical phrase in paragraph (1).
(2) Floor specialist The term “floor specialist” means a person who is—
(A) a member of a national securities exchange,
(B) is registered as a specialist with the exchange, and
(C) meets the requirements for specialists established by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
(e) Special rule for options

For purposes of subsection (a), any security acquired by a dealer pursuant to an option held by such dealer may be treated as held for investment only if the dealer, before the close of the day on which the option was acquired, clearly identified the option on his records as held for investment. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the term “option” includes the right to subscribe to or purchase any security.

(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 330; Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, § 1901(b)(3)(E), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1793; Pub. L. 97–34, title V, § 506, Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 332; Pub. L. 97–448, title I, § 105(d)(1), Jan. 12, 1983, 96 Stat. 2387; Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title I, § 107(b), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 630; Pub. L. 113–295, div. A, title II, § 221(a)(83), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 4049.)

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 § 1236

Cross-references

Computed from the citations in the text of Title 26 and 26 CFR.

This section cites 1 other section

Cited by 4 Code sections

Cited in 11 regulations not issued under it

Amendment history

From the source credit and the official notes, newest first.

  1. Amended by Pub. L. 113–295Parts changed in 2014: (b)
  2. Amended by Pub. L. 98–369Parts changed in 1984: (a)(1) (a)(2)
  3. Amended by Pub. L. 97–448Parts changed in 1983: (e)
  4. Amended by Pub. L. 97–34Parts changed in 1981: (a) (d)
  5. Enacted by Pub. L. 94–455Parts changed in 1976: (b)

Where it sits in the Code

  1. Subtitle A Income Taxes
  2. Chapter 1 NORMAL TAXES AND SURTAXES
  3. Subchapter P Capital Gains and Losses
  4. Part IV SPECIAL RULES FOR DETERMINING CAPITAL GAINS AND LOSSES

Nearby sections

Official notes

Show the Law Revision Counsel's notes (amendments, effective dates)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2014—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 113–295 struck out “after November 19, 1951,” after “time”.

1984—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 98–369, § 107(b)(1), substituted “the security was, before the close of the day on which it was acquired (or such earlier time as the Secretary may prescribe by regulations), clearly identified in the dealer’s records as a security held for investment; and” for “the security was, before the close of the day on which it was acquired (before the close of the following day in the case of an acquisition before January 1, 1982), clearly identified in the dealer’s records as a security held for investment or if acquired before October 20, 1951, was so identified before November 20, 1951; and”.

Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 98–369, § 107(b)(2), inserted “(or such earlier time)” after “such day”.

1983—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 97–448 added subsec. (e).

1981—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 97–34, § 506(a), substituted “before the close of the day on which it was acquired (before the close of the following day in the case of an acquisition before January 1, 1982)” for “before the expiration of the 30th day after the date of its acquisition” in par. (1) and “close of such day” for “expiration of such 30th day” in par. (2).

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 97–34, § 506(b), added subsec. (d).

1976—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 94–455 substituted “ordinary loss” for “loss from the sale or exchange of property which is not a capital asset”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2014 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 113–295 effective Dec. 19, 2014, subject to a savings provision, see section 221(b) of Pub. L. 113–295, set out as a note under section 1 of this title.

Effective Date of 1984 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 98–369 applicable to positions entered into after July 18, 1984, in taxable years ending after that date, see section 107(e) of Pub. L. 98–369, set out as a note under section 1092 of this title.

Effective Date of 1983 Amendment

Pub. L. 97–448, title I, § 105(d)(2), Jan. 12, 1983, 96 Stat. 2387, provided that: “The amendment made by paragraph (1) [amending this section] shall apply to securities acquired after September 22, 1982, in taxable years ending after such date.”

Effective Date of 1981 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 97–34 applicable to property acquired by the taxpayer after Aug. 13, 1981, in taxable years ending after such date, and applicable when so elected with respect to property held on June 23, 1981, see section 508 of Pub. L. 97–34, set out as an Effective Date note under section 1092 of this title.

Effective Date of 1976 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 94–455 applicable with respect to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1976, see section 1901(d) of Pub. L. 94–455, set out as a note under section 2 of this title.