Internal Revenue Code · 26 U.S.C.
§ 173. Circulation expenditures
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. § 173
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
- November 10, 1988 by Pub. L. 100–647
- Amendments
- 5 dated changes in the source credit
- Length
- 2 subsections · 280 words · about 1 min to read
- Cross-references
- cites 2; cited by 4 Code sections and 5 other regulations
- Regulations
- 1 issued under this section
Notwithstanding section 263, all expenditures (other than expenditures for the purchase of land or depreciable property or for the acquisition of circulation through the purchase of any part of the business of another publisher of a newspaper, magazine, or other periodical) to establish, maintain, or increase the circulation of a newspaper, magazine, or other periodical shall be allowed as a deduction; except that the deduction shall not be allowed with respect to the portion of such expenditures as, under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, is chargeable to capital account if the taxpayer elects, in accordance with such regulations, to treat such portion as so chargeable. Such election, if made, must be for the total amount of such portion of the expenditures which is so chargeable to capital account, and shall be binding for all subsequent taxable years unless, upon application by the taxpayer, the Secretary permits a revocation of such election subject to such conditions as he deems necessary.
For election of 3-year amortization of expenditures allowable as a deduction under subsection (a), see section 59(e).
(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 65; Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, § 1906(b)(13)(A), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1834; Pub. L. 97–248, title II, § 201(d)(9)(A), formerly § 201(c)(9)(A), Sept. 3, 1982, 96 Stat. 420, renumbered § 201(d)(9)(A), Pub. L. 97–448, title III, § 306(a)(1)(A)(i), Jan. 12, 1983, 96 Stat. 2400; Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title VII, § 711(a)(3)(C), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 942; Pub. L. 99–514, title VII, § 701(e)(4)(D), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2343; Pub. L. 100–647, title I, § 1007(g)(5), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3435.)
Regulations under this section
Treasury regulations (26 CFR) issued under § 173
Cross-references
Computed from the citations in the text of Title 26 and 26 CFR.
This section cites 2 other sections
Cited by 4 Code sections
- § 56(b)(2)(A) Adjustments in computing alternative minimum taxable income
- § 59(e)(1) Other definitions and special rules
- § 312(n)(3) Effect on earnings and profits
- § 1016(a)(1)(A)(ii) Adjustments to basis
Cited in 5 regulations not issued under it
Amendment history
From the source credit and the official notes, newest first.
Where it sits in the Code
- Subtitle A Income Taxes
- Chapter 1 NORMAL TAXES AND SURTAXES
- Subchapter B Computation of Taxable Income
- Part VI ITEMIZED DEDUCTIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS AND CORPORATIONS
Nearby sections
- § 169 Amortization of pollution control facilities
- § 170 Charitable, etc., contributions and gifts
- § 171 Amortizable bond premium
- § 172 Net operating loss deduction
- § 173 Circulation expenditures
- § 174 Amortization of research and experimental expenditures
- § 174A Domestic research or experimental expenditures
- § 175 Soil and water conservation expenditures; endangered species recovery expenditures
- § 176 Payments with respect to employees of certain foreign corporations
Official notes
Show the Law Revision Counsel's notes (amendments, effective dates)
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1988—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 100–647 substituted “section 59(e)” for “section 59(d)”.
1986—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 99–514 substituted “section 59(d)” for “section 58(i)”.
1984—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 98–369 substituted “3-year” for “10-year”.
1982—Pub. L. 97–248, § 201(d)(9)(A), designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), added subsec. (a) heading, and added subsec. (b).
1976—Pub. L. 94–455 struck out “or his delegate” after “Secretary” in two places.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
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 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1986, with certain exceptions and qualifications, see section 701(f) of Pub. L. 99–514, set out as an Effective Date note under section 55 of this title.
Effective Date of 1984 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 98–369 effective as if included in the provision of the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982, Pub. L. 97–248, to which such amendment relates, see section 715 of Pub. L. 98–369, set out as a note under section 31 of this title.
Effective Date of 1982 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 97–248 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1982, see section 201(e)(1) of Pub. L. 97–248, set out as a note under section 5 of this title.
Applicability of Certain Amendments by Pub. L. 99–514 in Relation to Treaty Obligations of United States
For applicability of amendment by Pub. L. 99–514 notwithstanding any treaty obligation of the United States in effect on Oct. 22, 1986, with provision that for such purposes any amendment by title I of Pub. L. 100–647 be treated as if it had been included in the provision of Pub. L. 99–514 to which such amendment relates, see section 1012(aa)(2), (4) of Pub. L. 100–647, set out as a note under section 861 of this title.