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Internal Revenue Code · 26 U.S.C.

§ 1275. Other definitions and special rules

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. § 1275

At a glance

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

Status
In force
Added
July 18, 1984 by Pub. L. 98–369
Last amended
December 21, 2000 by Pub. L. 106–554
Amendments
4 dated changes in the source credit
Length
4 subsections · 984 words · about 4 min to read
Defines
7 terms
Cross-references
cites 10; cited by 10 Code sections and 19 other regulations
Regulations
7 issued under this section
(a) Definitions For purposes of this subpart—
(1) Debt instrument
(A) In general

Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the term “debt instrument” means a bond, debenture, note, or certificate or other evidence of indebtedness.

(B) Exception for certain annuity contracts The term “debt instrument” shall not include any annuity contract to which section 72 applies and which—
(i) depends (in whole or in substantial part) on the life expectancy of 1 or more individuals, or
(ii) is issued by an insurance company subject to tax under subchapter L (or by an entity described in section 501(c) and exempt from tax under section 501(a) which would be subject to tax under subchapter L were it not so exempt)—
(I) in a transaction in which there is no consideration other than cash or another annuity contract meeting the requirements of this clause,
(II) pursuant to the exercise of an election under an insurance contract by a beneficiary thereof on the death of the insured party under such contract, or
(III) in a transaction involving a qualified pension or employee benefit plan.
(2) Issue date
(A) Publicly offered debt instruments

In the case of any debt instrument which is publicly offered, the term “date of original issue” means the date on which the issue was first issued to the public.

(B) Issues not publicly offered and not issued for property

In the case of any debt instrument to which section 1273(b)(2) applies, the term “date of original issue” means the date on which the debt instrument was sold by the issuer.

(C) Other debt instruments

In the case of any debt instrument not described in subparagraph (A) or (B), the term “date of original issue” means the date on which the debt instrument was issued in a sale or exchange.

(3) Tax-exempt obligation The term “tax-exempt obligation” means any obligation if—
(A) the interest on such obligation is not includible in gross income under section 103, or
(B) the interest on such obligation is exempt from tax (without regard to the identity of the holder) under any other provision of law.
(4) Treatment of obligations distributed by corporations

Any debt obligation of a corporation distributed by such corporation with respect to its stock shall be treated as if it had been issued by such corporation for property.

(b) Treatment of borrower in the case of certain loans for personal use
(1) Sections 1274 and 483 not to apply

In the case of the obligor under any debt instrument given in consideration for the sale or exchange of property, sections 1274 and 483 shall not apply if such property is personal use property.

(2) Original issue discount deducted on cash basis in certain cases In the case of any debt instrument, if—
(A) such instrument—
(i) is incurred in connection with the acquisition or carrying of personal use property, and
(ii) has original issue discount (determined after the application of paragraph (1)), and
(B) the obligor under such instrument uses the cash receipts and disbursements method of accounting,
notwithstanding section 163(e), the original issue discount on such instrument shall be deductible only when paid.
(3) Personal use property

For purposes of this subsection, the term “personal use property” means any property substantially all of the use of which by the taxpayer is not in connection with a trade or business of the taxpayer or an activity described in section 212. The determination of whether property is described in the preceding sentence shall be made as of the time of issuance of the debt instrument.

(c) Information requirements
(1) Information required to be set forth on instrument
(A) In general In the case of any debt instrument having original issue discount, the Secretary may by regulations require that—
(i) the amount of the original issue discount, and
(ii) the issue date,
be set forth on such instrument.
(B) Special rule for instruments not publicly offered

In the case of any issue of debt instruments not publicly offered, the regulations prescribed under subparagraph (A) shall not require the information to be set forth on the debt instrument before any disposition of such instrument by the first buyer.

(2) Information required to be submitted to Secretary In the case of any issue of publicly offered debt instruments having original issue discount, the issuer shall (at such time and in such manner as the Secretary shall by regulation prescribe) furnish the Secretary the following information:
(A) The amount of the original issue discount.
(B) The issue date.
(C) Such other information with respect to the issue as the Secretary may by regulations require.
For purposes of the preceding sentence, any person who makes a public offering of stripped bonds (or stripped coupons) shall be treated as the issuer of a publicly offered debt instrument having original issue discount.
(3) Exceptions

This subsection shall not apply to any obligation referred to in section 1272(a)(2) (relating to exceptions from current inclusion of original issue discount).

(4) Cross reference

For civil penalty for failure to meet requirements of this subsection, see section 6706.

(d) Regulation authority

The Secretary may prescribe regulations providing that where, by reason of varying rates of interest, put or call options, indefinite maturities, contingent payments, assumptions of debt instruments, or other circumstances, the tax treatment under this subpart (or section 163(e)) does not carry out the purposes of this subpart (or section 163(e)), such treatment shall be modified to the extent appropriate to carry out the purposes of this subpart (or section 163(e)).

(Added and amended Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title I, §§ 41(a), 61(c)(2), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 540, 581; Pub. L. 99–514, title XVIII, § 1804(f)(2)(A), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2805; Pub. L. 100–647, title I, § 1006(u)(4), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3427; Pub. L. 101–508, title XI, § 11325(a)(2), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–466; Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(7) [title III, § 318(c)(1)], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A–645.)

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 § 1275

Cross-references

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

This section cites 10 other sections

Cited by 10 Code sections

Cited in 19 regulations not issued under it

Amendment history

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

  1. Amended by Pub. L. 106–554Parts changed in 2000: (a)(1)(B)(ii)
  2. Amended by Pub. L. 101–508Parts changed in 1990: (a)(4)
  3. Amended by Pub. L. 100–647Parts changed in 1988: (a)(4)(B)(ii)(I)
  4. Amended by Pub. L. 99–514Parts changed in 1986: (a)(4)
  5. Added by Pub. L. 98–369Parts changed in 1984: (a)(4)

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)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2000—Subsec. (a)(1)(B)(ii). Pub. L. 106–554, in introductory provisions, substituted “subchapter L (or by an entity described in section 501(c) and exempt from tax under section 501(a) which would be subject to tax under subchapter L were it not so exempt)” for “subchapter L”.

1990—Subsec. (a)(4), (5). Pub. L. 101–508 redesignated par. (5) as (4) and struck out former par. (4) which related to a special rule for determination of issue price in case of exchange of debt instruments in re­organization.

1988—Subsec. (a)(4)(B)(ii)(I). Pub. L. 100–647 substituted “subsection (a)(7)” for “subsection (a)(6)”.

1986—Subsec. (a)(4), (5). Pub. L. 99–514 redesignated par. (4), relating to treatment of obligations distributed to corporations, as (5), and substituted “by corporations” for “to corporations” in heading.

1984—Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 98–369, § 61(c)(2), added par. (4) relating to treatment of obligations distributed to corporations.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2000 Amendment

Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(7) [title III, § 318(c)(2)], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A–645, provided that: “The amendment made by this subsection [amending this section] shall take effect as if included in the amendments made by section 41 of the Tax Reform Act of 1984 [Pub. L. 98–369, div. A].”

Effective Date of 1990 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 101–508 applicable, with certain exceptions, to debt instruments issued and stock transferred after Oct. 1, 1990, in satisfaction of any indebtedness, see section 11325(c) of Pub. L. 101–508, set out as a note under section 108 of this title.

Effective Date of 1988 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 100–647 effective, except as otherwise provided, as if included in the provision of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, Pub. L. 99–514, to which such amendment relates, see section 1019(a) of Pub. L. 100–647, set out as a note under section 1 of this title.

Effective Date of 1986 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 99–514 effective, except as otherwise provided, as if included in the provisions of the Tax Reform Act of 1984, Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, to which such amendment relates, see section 1881 of Pub. L. 99–514, set out as a note under section 48 of this title.

Effective Date of 1984 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 98–369 applicable with respect to distributions declared Mar. 15, 1984, in taxable years ending after that date, see section 61(e)(3) of Pub. L. 98–369, set out as a note under section 312 of this title.

Effective Date

Section applicable to taxable years ending after July 18, 1984, but subsec. (c) of this section effective on the day 30 days after July 18, 1984, see section 44 of Pub. L. 98–369, set out as a note under section 1271 of this title.

Plan Amendments Not Required Until January 1, 1989

For provisions directing that if any amendments made by subtitle A or subtitle C of title XI [§§ 1101–1147 and 1171–1177] or title XVIII [§§ 1800–1899A] of Pub. L. 99–514 require an amendment to any plan, such plan amendment shall not be required to be made before the first plan year beginning on or after Jan. 1, 1989, see section 1140 of Pub. L. 99–514, as amended, set out as a note under section 401 of this title.