Skip to content

General education, not advice for your situation.

Carry Forward Learning Start here Intern0 XP

Internal Revenue Code · 26 U.S.C.

§ 1274A. Special rules for certain transactions where stated principal amount does not exceed $2,800,000

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. § 1274A

At a glance

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

Status
In force
Added
October 11, 1985 by Pub. L. 99–121
Last amended
December 22, 2017 by Pub. L. 115–97
Amendments
3 dated changes in the source credit
Length
5 subsections · 667 words · about 3 min to read
Defines
2 terms
Cross-references
cites 5; cited by 2 Code sections and 4 other regulations
Regulations
1 issued under this section
(a) Lower discount rate

In the case of any qualified debt instrument, the discount rate used for purposes of sections 483 and 1274 shall not exceed 9 percent, compounded semiannually.

(b) Qualified debt instrument defined

For purposes of this section, the term “qualified debt instrument” means any debt instrument given in consideration for the sale or exchange of property (other than new section 38 property within the meaning of section 48(b), as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of the Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1990) if the stated principal amount of such instrument does not exceed $2,800,000.

(c) Election to use cash method where stated principal amount does not exceed $2,000,000
(1) In general In the case of any cash method debt instrument—
(A) section 1274 shall not apply, and
(B) interest on such debt instrument shall be taken into account by both the borrower and the lender under the cash receipts and disbursements method of accounting.
(2) Cash method debt instrument For purposes of paragraph (1), the term “cash method debt instrument” means any qualified debt instrument if—
(A) the stated principal amount does not exceed $2,000,000,
(B) the lender does not use an accrual method of accounting and is not a dealer with respect to the property sold or exchanged,
(C) section 1274 would have applied to such instrument but for an election under this subsection, and
(D) an election under this subsection is jointly made with respect to such debt instrument by the borrower and lender.
(3) Successors bound by election
(A) In general

Except as provided in subparagraph (B), paragraph (1) shall apply to any successor to the borrower or lender with respect to a cash method debt instrument.

(B) Exception where lender transfers debt instrument to accrual method taxpayer

If the lender (or any successor) transfers any cash method debt instrument to a taxpayer who uses an accrual method of accounting, this paragraph shall not apply with respect to such instrument for periods after such transfer.

(4) Fair market value rule in potentially abusive situations

In the case of any cash method debt instrument, section 483 shall be applied as if it included provisions similar to the provisions of section 1274(b)(3).

(d) Other special rules
(1) Aggregation rules For purposes of this section—
(A) all sales or exchanges which are part of the same transaction (or a series of related transactions) shall be treated as 1 sale or exchange, and
(B) all debt instruments arising from the same transaction (or a series of related transactions) shall be treated as 1 debt instrument.
(2) Adjustment for inflation In the case of any debt instrument arising out of a sale or exchange during any calendar year after 1989, each dollar amount contained in the preceding provisions of this section shall be increased by an amount equal to—
(A) such amount, multiplied by
(B) the cost-of-living adjustment determined under section 1(f)(3) for the calendar year in which the taxable year begins, by substituting “calendar year 1988” for “calendar year 2016” in subparagraph (A)(ii) thereof.
Any increase under the preceding sentence shall be rounded to the nearest multiple of $100 (or, if such increase is a multiple of $50, such increase shall be increased to the nearest multiple of $100).
(e) Regulations The Secretary shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this subsection, including—
(1) regulations coordinating the provisions of this section with other provisions of this title,
(2) regulations necessary to prevent the avoidance of tax through the abuse of the provisions of subsection (c), and
(3) regulations relating to the treatment of transfers of cash method debt instruments.

(Added Pub. L. 99–121, title I, § 102(a), Oct. 11, 1985, 99 Stat. 506; amended Pub. L. 101–508, title XI, § 11813(b)(22), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–555; Pub. L. 104–188, title I, § 1704(t)(62), Aug. 20, 1996, 110 Stat. 1890; Pub. L. 115–97, title I, § 11002(d)(10), Dec. 22, 2017, 131 Stat. 2062.)

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 § 1274A

Cross-references

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

This section cites 5 other sections

Cited by 2 Code sections

Cited in 4 regulations not issued under it

Amendment history

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

  1. Amended by Pub. L. 115–97Parts changed in 2017: (d)(2)
  2. Amended by Pub. L. 104–188Parts changed in 1996: (c)(1)(B)
  3. Amended by Pub. L. 101–508Parts changed in 1990: (b)
  4. Added by Pub. L. 99–121

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 V SPECIAL RULES FOR BONDS AND OTHER DEBT INSTRUMENTS
  5. Subpart A Original Issue Discount

Nearby sections

Official notes

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

Inflation Adjusted Items for Certain Years

For inflation adjustment of certain items in this section, see Revenue Rulings listed in a table below and Revenue Procedures listed in a table under section 1 of this title.

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The date of the enactment of the Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1990, referred to in subsec. (b), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 101–508, which was approved Nov. 5, 1990.

Amendments

2017—Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 115–97 amended par. (2) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows:

“(A) In general.—In the case of any debt instrument arising out of a sale or exchange during any calendar year after 1989, each dollar amount contained in the preceding provisions of this section shall be increased by the inflation adjustment for such calendar year. Any increase under the preceding sentence shall be rounded to the nearest multiple of $100 (or, if such increase is a multiple of $50, such increase shall be increased to the nearest multiple of $100).

“(B) Inflation adjustment.—For purposes of subparagraph (A), the inflation adjustment for any calendar year is the percentage (if any) by which—

“(i) the CPI for the preceding calendar year exceeds

“(ii) the CPI for calendar year 1988.

For purposes of the preceding sentence, the CPI for any calendar year is the average of the Consumer Price Index as of the close of the 12-month period ending on September 30 of such calendar year.”

1996—Subsec. (c)(1)(B). Pub. L. 104–188 substituted “instrument” for “instument”.

1990—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 101–508 inserted “, as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of the Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1990” after “section 48(b)”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2017 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 115–97 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 2017, see section 11002(e) of Pub. L. 115–97, set out as a note under section 1 of this title.

Effective Date of 1990 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 101–508 applicable to property placed in service after Dec. 31, 1990, but not applicable to any transition property (as defined in section 49(e) of this title), any property with respect to which qualified progress expenditures were previously taken into account under section 46(d) of this title, and any property described in section 46(b)(2)(C) of this title, as such sections were in effect on Nov. 4, 1990, see section 11813(c) of Pub. L. 101–508, set out as a note under section 45K of this title.

Effective Date

Section applicable to sales and exchanges after June 30, 1985, in taxable years ending after such date, see section 105(a)(1) of Pub. L. 99–121, set out as an Effective Date of 1985 Amendment note under section 1274 of this title.

Savings Provision

For provisions that nothing in amendment by Pub. L. 101–508 be construed to affect treatment of certain transactions occurring, property acquired, or items of income, loss, deduction, or credit taken into account prior to Nov. 5, 1990, for purposes of determining liability for tax for periods ending after Nov. 5, 1990, see section 11821(b) of Pub. L. 101–508, set out as a note under section 45K of this title.

Executive Documents

Inflation Adjusted Items for Certain Years

Per Revenue Procedure 2018–57, after 2018, a separate Revenue Ruling relating to inflation-adjusted amounts under this section will not be published. Starting with 2019, see the table of Revenue Procedures set out under section 1 of this title. Provisions relating to inflation adjustment of items in this section for years before 2019 were contained in the following:

2018—Revenue Ruling 2018–11.

2017—Revenue Ruling 2016–30.

2016—Revenue Ruling 2015–24.

2015—Revenue Ruling 2014–30.

2014—Revenue Ruling 2013–23.

2013—Revenue Ruling 2012–33.

2012—Revenue Ruling 2011–27.

2011—Revenue Ruling 2010–30.

2010—Revenue Ruling 2010–2.

2009—Revenue Ruling 2008–52.

2008—Revenue Ruling 2008–3.

2007—Revenue Ruling 2007–4.

2006—Revenue Ruling 2005–76.

2005—Revenue Ruling 2004–107.

2004—Revenue Ruling 2003–119.

2003—Revenue Ruling 2002–79.

2002—Revenue Ruling 2001–65.

2001—Revenue Ruling 2000–55.

2000—Revenue Ruling 99–50.

1999—Revenue Ruling 98–58.

1998—Revenue Ruling 97–56.

1997—Revenue Ruling 96–63.

1996—Revenue Ruling 96–4.