Internal Revenue Code · 26 U.S.C.

§ 1377. Definitions and special rule

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. § 1377

At a glance

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

Status: In force
Added: October 19, 1982 by Pub. L. 97–354
Last amended: October 4, 2004 by Pub. L. 108–311
Amendments: 2 dated changes in the source credit
Length: 3 subsections · 546 words · about 2 min to read
Defines: 4 terms
Cross-references: cites 5; cited by 1 Code section and 19 other regulations
Regulations: 4 issued under this section

¶(a) Pro rata share For purposes of this subchapter—

¶(1) In general Except as provided in paragraph (2), each shareholder’s pro rata share of any item for any taxable year shall be the sum of the amounts determined with respect to the shareholder—

¶(A) by assigning an equal portion of such item to each day of the taxable year, and

¶(B) then by dividing that portion pro rata among the shares outstanding on such day.

¶(2) Election to terminate year

¶(A) In general

Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, if any shareholder terminates the shareholder’s interest in the corporation during the taxable year and all affected shareholders and the corporation agree to the application of this paragraph, paragraph (1) shall be applied to the affected shareholders as if the taxable year consisted of 2 taxable years the first of which ends on the date of the termination.

¶(B) Affected shareholders

For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term “affected shareholders” means the shareholder whose interest is terminated and all shareholders to whom such shareholder has transferred shares during the taxable year. If such shareholder has transferred shares to the corporation, the term “affected shareholders” shall include all persons who are shareholders during the taxable year.

¶(b) Post-termination transition period

¶(1) In general For purposes of this subchapter, the term “post-termination transition period” means—

¶(A) the period beginning on the day after the last day of the corporation’s last taxable year as an S corporation and ending on the later of—

¶(i) the day which is 1 year after such last day, or

¶(ii) the due date for filing the return for such last year as an S corporation (including extensions),

¶(B) the 120-day period beginning on the date of any determination pursuant to an audit of the taxpayer which follows the termination of the corporation’s election and which adjusts a subchapter S item of income, loss, or deduction of the corporation arising during the S period (as defined in section 1368(e)(2)), and

¶(C) the 120-day period beginning on the date of a determination that the corporation’s election under section 1362(a) had terminated for a previous taxable year.

¶(2) Determination defined For purposes of paragraph (1), the term “determination” means—

¶(A) a determination as defined in section 1313(a), or

¶(B) an agreement between the corporation and the Secretary that the corporation failed to qualify as an S corporation.

¶(3) Special rules for audit related post-termination transition periods

¶(A) No application to carryovers

Paragraph (1)(B) shall not apply for purposes of section 1366(d)(3).

¶(B) Limitation on application to distributions

Paragraph (1)(B) shall apply to a distribution described in section 1371(e) only to the extent that the amount of such distribution does not exceed the aggregate increase (if any) in the accumulated adjustments account (within the meaning of section 1368(e)) by reason of the adjustments referred to in such paragraph.

¶(c) Manner of making elections, etc.

Any election under this subchapter, and any revocation under section 1362(d)(1), shall be made in such manner as the Secretary shall by regulations prescribe.

(Added Pub. L. 97–354, § 2, Oct. 19, 1982, 96 Stat. 1685; amended Pub. L. 104–188, title I, §§ 1306–1307(b), Aug. 20, 1996, 110 Stat. 1780; Pub. L. 108–311, title IV, § 407(a), Oct. 4, 2004, 118 Stat. 1190.)

Terms defined here

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affected shareholders § 1377(a)(2)(B)
affected shareholders § 1377(a)(2)(B)
determination § 1377(b)(2)
post-termination transition period § 1377(b)(1)

Regulations under this section

Treasury regulations (26 CFR) issued under § 1377

Cross-references

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

This section cites 5 other sections

Cited by 1 Code section

§ 1371(e)(2) Coordination with subchapter C

Cited in 19 regulations not issued under it

Amendment history

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

October 4, 2004Amended by Pub. L. 108–311Parts changed in 2004: (b)(3)
August 20, 1996Amended by Pub. L. 104–188Parts changed in 1996: (a)(2) (b)(1)(A) (b)(2)(A)
October 19, 1982Added by Pub. L. 97–354

Where it sits in the Code

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Official notes

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

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 1377, added Pub. L. 85–866, title I, § 64(a), Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1656; amended Pub. L. 94–455, title IX, § 902(b)(1), title XIX, § 1901(b)(32)(B)(iv), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1608, 1800, related to special rules applicable to earnings and profits of electing small business corporations, prior to the general revision of this subchapter by section 2 of Pub. L. 97–354.

Amendments

2004—Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 108–311 added par. (3).

1996—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 104–188, § 1306, reenacted heading without change and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, if any shareholder terminates his interest in the corporation during the taxable year and all persons who are shareholders during the taxable year agree to the application of this paragraph, paragraph (1) shall be applied as if the taxable year consisted of 2 taxable years the first of which ends on the date of the termination.”

Subsec. (b)(1)(A) to (C). Pub. L. 104–188, § 1307(a), struck out “and” at end of subpar. (A)(ii), added subpar. (B), and redesignated former subpar. (B) as (C).

Subsec. (b)(2)(A) to (C). Pub. L. 104–188, § 1307(b), added subpar. (A), redesignated subpar. (C) as (B), and struck out former subpars. (A) and (B) which read as follows:

“(A) a court decision which becomes final,

“(B) a closing agreement, or”.

Effective Date of 2004 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 108–311 effective as if included in the provisions of the Small Business Job Protection Act of 1996, Pub. L. 104–188, to which such amendment relates, see section 407(c) of Pub. L. 108–311, set out as a note under section 401 of this title.

Effective Date of 1996 Amendments

Pub. L. 105–34, title XVI, § 1601(c)(2), Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 1087, provided that:

“(A) Notwithstanding section 1317 of the Small Business Job Protection Act of 1996 [Pub. L. 104–188, enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 641 and 1362 of this title], the amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) of section 1307 of such Act [amending this section] shall apply to determinations made after December 31, 1996.

“(B) In no event shall the 120-day period referred to in section 1377(b)(1)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as added by such section 1307) expire before the end of the 120-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act [Aug. 5, 1997].”

Amendment by Pub. L. 104–188 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1996, see section 1317(a) of Pub. L. 104–188, set out as a note under section 641 of this title.

Effective Date

Section applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1982, see section 6(a) of Pub. L. 97–354, set out as a note under section 1361 of this title.