Internal Revenue Code · 26 U.S.C.

§ 1286. Tax treatment of stripped bonds

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. § 1286

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: March 23, 2018 by Pub. L. 115–141
Amendments: 4 dated changes in the source credit
Length: 6 subsections · 1,091 words · about 5 min to read
Defines: 6 terms
Cross-references: cites 4; cited by 3 Code sections and 11 other regulations
Regulations: 2 issued under this section

¶(a) Inclusion in income as if bond and coupons were original issue discount bonds If any person purchases a stripped bond or a stripped coupon, then such bond or coupon while held by such purchaser (or by any other person whose basis is determined by reference to the basis in the hands of such purchaser) shall be treated for purposes of this part as a bond originally issued on the purchase date and having an original issue discount equal to the excess (if any) of—

¶(1) the stated redemption price at maturity (or, in the case of coupon, the amount payable on the due date of such coupon), over

¶(2) such bond’s or coupon’s ratable share of the purchase price.

For purposes of paragraph (2), ratable shares shall be determined on the basis of their respective fair market values on the date of purchase.

¶(b) Tax treatment of person stripping bond For purposes of this subtitle, if any person strips 1 or more coupons from a bond and disposes of the bond or such coupon—

¶(1) such person shall include in gross income an amount equal to the sum of—

¶(A) the interest accrued on such bond while held by such person and before the time such coupon or bond was disposed of (to the extent such interest has not theretofore been included in such person’s gross income), and

¶(B) the accrued market discount on such bond determined as of the time such coupon or bond was disposed of (to the extent such discount has not theretofore been included in such person’s gross income),

¶(2) the basis of the bond and coupons shall be increased by the amount included in gross income under paragraph (1),

¶(3) the basis of the bond and coupons immediately before the disposition (as adjusted pursuant to paragraph (2)) shall be allocated among the items retained by such person and the items disposed of by such person on the basis of their respective fair market values, and

¶(4) for purposes of subsection (a), such person shall be treated as having purchased on the date of such disposition each such item which he retains for an amount equal to the basis allocated to such item under paragraph (3).

A rule similar to the rule of paragraph (4) shall apply in the case of any person whose basis in any bond or coupon is determined by reference to the basis of the person described in the preceding sentence.

¶(c) Special rules for tax-exempt obligations

¶(1) In general In the case of any tax-exempt obligation (as defined in section 1275(a)(3)) from which 1 or more coupons have been stripped—

¶(A) the amount of the original issue discount determined under subsection (a) with respect to any stripped bond or stripped coupon—

¶(i) shall be treated as original issue discount on a tax-exempt obligation to the extent such discount does not exceed the tax-exempt portion of such discount, and

¶(ii) shall be treated as original issue discount on an obligation which is not a tax-exempt obligation to the extent such discount exceeds the tax-exempt portion of such discount,

¶(B) subsection (b)(1)(A) shall not apply, and

¶(C) subsection (b)(2) shall be applied by increasing the basis of the bond or coupon by the sum of—

¶(i) the interest accrued but not paid before such bond or coupon was disposed of (and not previously reflected in basis), plus

¶(ii) the amount included in gross income under subsection (b)(1)(B).

¶(2) Tax-exempt portion For purposes of paragraph (1), the tax-exempt portion of the original issue discount determined under subsection (a) is the excess of—

¶(A) the amount referred to in subsection (a)(1), over

¶(B) an issue price which would produce a yield to maturity as of the purchase date equal to the lower of—

¶(i) the coupon rate of interest on the obligation from which the coupons were separated, or

¶(ii) the yield to maturity (on the basis of the purchase price) of the stripped obligation or coupon.

The purchaser of any stripped obligation or coupon may elect to apply clause (i) by substituting “original yield to maturity of” for “coupon rate of interest on”.

¶(d) Definitions and special rules For purposes of this section—

¶(1) Bond

The term “bond” means a bond, debenture, note, or certificate or other evidence of indebtedness.

¶(2) Stripped bond

The term “stripped bond” means a bond issued at any time with interest coupons where there is a separation in ownership between the bond and any coupon which has not yet become payable.

¶(3) Stripped coupon

The term “stripped coupon” means any coupon relating to a stripped bond.

¶(4) Stated redemption price at maturity

The term “stated redemption price at maturity” has the meaning given such term by section 1273(a)(2).

¶(5) Coupon

The term “coupon” includes any right to receive interest on a bond (whether or not evidenced by a coupon).

¶(6) Purchase

The term “purchase” has the meaning given such term by section 1272(d)(1).11 See References in Text note below.

¶(e) Treatment of stripped interests in bond and preferred stock funds, etc.

In the case of an account or entity substantially all of the assets of which consist of bonds, preferred stock, or a combination thereof, the Secretary may by regulations provide that rules similar to the rules of this section and section 305(e), as appropriate, shall apply to interests in such account or entity to which (but for this subsection) this section or section 305(e), as the case may be, would not apply.

¶(f) Regulation authority

The Secretary may prescribe regulations providing that where, by reason of varying rates of interest, put or call options, or other circumstances, the tax treatment under this section does not accurately reflect the income of the holder of a stripped coupon or stripped bond, or of the person disposing of such bond or coupon, as the case may be, for any period, such treatment shall be modified to require that the proper amount of income be included for such period.

(Added Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title I, § 41(a), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 551; amended Pub. L. 99–514, title XVIII, §§ 1803(a)(13)(B), 1879(s)(1), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2796, 2912; Pub. L. 100–647, title I, § 1018(q)(4)(A), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3585; Pub. L. 108–357, title VIII, § 831(a), Oct. 22, 2004, 118 Stat. 1587; Pub. L. 115–141, div. U, title IV, § 401(a)(182), (c)(2)(A)–(C), Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1193, 1205, 1206.)

Terms defined here

Where the text says “the term … means”. Select a term to jump to its definition.

bond § 1286(d)(1)
coupon § 1286(d)(5)
purchase § 1286(d)(6)
stated redemption price at maturity § 1286(d)(4)
stripped bond § 1286(d)(2)
stripped coupon § 1286(d)(3)

Regulations under this section

Treasury regulations (26 CFR) issued under § 1286

Cross-references

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

This section cites 4 other sections

Cited by 3 Code sections

Cited in 11 regulations not issued under it

Amendment history

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

March 23, 2018Amended by Pub. L. 115–141Parts changed in 2018: (a) (b) (c) (d) (d)(5) (e) (f) (g)
October 22, 2004Amended by Pub. L. 108–357Parts changed in 2004: (f)
November 10, 1988Amended by Pub. L. 100–647Parts changed in 1988: (d)
October 22, 1986Amended by Pub. L. 99–514Parts changed in 1986: (b)(1) (b)(2) (d)
July 18, 1984Added by Pub. L. 98–369

Where it sits in the Code

Nearby sections

§ 1286 Tax treatment of stripped bonds
§ 1287 Denial of capital gain treatment for gains on certain obligations not in registered form
§ 1288 Treatment of original issue discount on tax-exempt obligations

Official notes

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

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Section 1272(d), referred to in subsec. (d)(6), was redesignated section 1272(c) by Pub. L. 115–141, div. U, title IV, § 401(c)(1)(B), Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1205.

Amendments

2018—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 115–141, § 401(c)(2)(B), struck out “after July 1, 1982,” before “a stripped bond” in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 115–141, § 401(c)(2)(B), struck out “after July 1, 1982,” before “disposes of the bond” in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 115–141, § 401(c)(2)(A), redesignated subsec. (d) as (c) and struck out former subsec. (c) which related to retention of existing law for stripped bonds purchased before July 2, 1982.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 115–141, § 401(c)(2)(A), redesignated subsec. (e) as (d). Former subsec. (d) redesignated (c).

Subsec. (d)(5). Pub. L. 115–141, § 401(c)(2)(C), struck out at end “This paragraph shall apply for purposes of subsection (c) only in the case of purchases after July 1, 1982.”

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 115–141, § 401(c)(2)(A), redesignated subsec. (f) as (e). Former subsec. (e) redesignated (d).

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 115–141, § 401(c)(2)(A), redesignated subsec. (g) as (f). Former subsec. (f) redesignated (e).

Pub. L. 115–141, § 401(a)(182), substituted “and section 305(e),” for “and 305(e),”.

Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 115–141, § 401(c)(2)(A), redesignated subsec. (g) as (f).

2004—Subsecs. (f), (g). Pub. L. 108–357 added subsec. (f) and redesignated former subsec. (f) as (g).

1988—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 100–647 amended subsec. (d) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (d) read as follows: “In the case of any tax-exempt obligation (as defined in section 1275(a)(3)) from which 1 or more coupons have been stripped—

“(1) the amount of original issue discount determined under subsection (a) with respect to any stripped bond or stripped coupon from such obligation shall be the amount which produces a yield to maturity (as of the purchase date) equal to the lower of—

“(A) the coupon rate of interest on such obligation before the separation of coupons, or

“(B) the yield to maturity (on the basis of purchase price) of the stripped obligation or coupon,

“(2) the amount of original issue discount determined under paragraph (1) shall be taken into account in determining the adjusted basis of the holder under section 1288,

“(3) subsection (b)(1) shall not apply, and

“(4) subsection (b)(2) shall be applied by increasing the basis of the bond or coupon by the interest accrued but not paid before the time such bond or coupon was disposed of (and not previously reflected in basis).”

1986—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 99–514, § 1803(a)(13)(B)(i), amended par. (1) generally, designating existing provisions as subpar. (A) and adding subpar. (B).

Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 99–514, § 1803(a)(13)(B)(ii), substituted “the amount included in gross income under paragraph (1)” for “the amount of the accrued interest described in paragraph (1)”.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 99–514, § 1879(s)(1), amended subsec. (d) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (d) read as follows: “In the case of any tax-exempt obligation (as defined in section 1275(a)(3))—

“(1) subsections (a) and (b)(1) shall not apply,

“(2) the rules of subsection (b)(4) shall apply for purposes of subsection (c), and

“(3) subsection (c) shall be applied without regard to the requirement that the bond be purchased before July 2, 1982.”

Effective Date of 2018 Amendment

Amendment by section 401(c)(2)(A)–(C) of Pub. L. 115–141 applicable to bonds purchased on or after July 2, 1982, see section 401(c)(2)(E) of Pub. L. 115–141, set out as a note under section 305 of this title.

Effective Date of 2004 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 108–357 applicable to purchases and dispositions after Oct. 22, 2004, see section 831(c) of Pub. L. 108–357, set out as a note under section 305 of this title.

Effective Date of 1988 Amendment

Pub. L. 100–647, title I, § 1018(q)(4)(B), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3586, provided that:

“(i) Except as provided in clause (ii), the amendment made by subparagraph (A) [amending this section] shall apply to any purchase or sale after June 10, 1987, of any stripped tax-exempt obligation or stripped coupon from such an obligation.

“(ii) If—
“(I) any person held any obligation or coupon in stripped form on June 10, 1987, and
“(II) such obligation or coupon was held by such person on such date for sale in the ordinary course of such person’s trade or business,
the amendment made by subparagraph (A) shall not apply to any sale of such obligation or coupon by such person and shall not apply to any such obligation or coupon while held by another person who purchased such obligation or coupon from the person referred to in subclause (I).”

Effective Date of 1986 Amendment

Amendment by section 1803(a)(13)(B) of Pub. L. 99–514 applicable to obligations acquired after Oct. 22, 1986, see section 1803(a)(13)(C) of Pub. L. 99–514, set out as a note under section 1276 of this title.

Pub. L. 99–514, title XVIII, § 1879(s)(2), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2913, provided that: “The amendment made by paragraph (1) [amending this section] shall apply to any purchase or sale of any stripped tax-exempt obligation or stripped coupon from such an obligation after the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 22, 1986].”

Effective Date

Section applicable to taxable years ending after July 18, 1984, except as otherwise provided, 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.