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Internal Revenue Code · 26 U.S.C.

§ 263A. Capitalization and inclusion in inventory costs of certain expenses

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. § 263A

At a glance

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

Status
In force
Added
October 22, 1986 by Pub. L. 99–514
Last amended
July 4, 2025 by Pub. L. 119–21
Amendments
10 dated changes in the source credit
Length
10 subsections · 3,089 words · about 13 min to read
Defines
15 terms
Cross-references
cites 18; cited by 17 Code sections and 51 other regulations
Regulations
14 issued under this section
(a) Nondeductibility of certain direct and indirect costs
(1) In general In the case of any property to which this section applies, any costs described in paragraph (2)—
(A) in the case of property which is inventory in the hands of the taxpayer, shall be included in inventory costs, and
(B) in the case of any other property, shall be capitalized.
(2) Allocable costs The costs described in this paragraph with respect to any property are—
(A) the direct costs of such property, and
(B) such property’s proper share of those indirect costs (including taxes) part or all of which are allocable to such property.
Any cost which (but for this subsection) could not be taken into account in computing taxable income for any taxable year shall not be treated as a cost described in this paragraph.
(b) Property to which section applies Except as otherwise provided in this section, this section shall apply to—
(1) Property produced by taxpayer

Real or tangible personal property produced by the taxpayer.

(2) Property acquired for resale

Real or personal property described in section 1221(a)(1) which is acquired by the taxpayer for resale.

For purposes of paragraph (1), the term “tangible personal property” shall include a film, sound recording, video tape, book, or similar property.
(c) General exceptions
(1) Personal use property

This section shall not apply to any property produced by the taxpayer for use by the taxpayer other than in a trade or business or an activity conducted for profit.

(2) Research and experimental expenditures

This section shall not apply to any amount allowable as a deduction under section 174 or 174A.

(3) Certain development and other costs of oil and gas wells or other mineral property

This section shall not apply to any cost allowable as a deduction under section 167(h), 179B, 263(c), 263(i), 291(b)(2), 616, or 617.

(4) Coordination with long-term contract rules

This section shall not apply to any property produced by the taxpayer pursuant to a long-term contract.

(5) Timber and certain ornamental trees This section shall not apply to—
(A) trees raised, harvested, or grown by the taxpayer other than trees described in clause (ii) of subsection (e)(4)(B) (after application of the last sentence thereof), and
(B) any real property underlying such trees.
(6) Coordination with section 59(e)

Paragraphs (2) and (3) shall apply to any amount allowable as a deduction under section 59(e) for qualified expenditures described in subparagraphs (B), (C), (D), and (E) of paragraph (2) thereof.

(7) Coordination with section 168(k)(5)

This section shall not apply to any amount allowed as a deduction by reason of section 168(k)(5) (relating to special rules for certain plants bearing fruits and nuts).

(d) Exception for farming businesses
(1) Section not to apply to certain property
(A) In general This section shall not apply to any of the following which is produced by the taxpayer in a farming business:
(i) Any animal.
(ii) Any plant which has a preproductive period of 2 years or less.
(B) Exception for taxpayers required to use accrual method

Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to any corporation, partnership, or tax shelter required to use an accrual method of accounting under section 447 or 448(a)(3).

(2) Treatment of certain plants lost by reason of casualty
(A) In general

If plants bearing an edible crop for human consumption were lost or damaged (while in the hands of the taxpayer) by reason of freezing temperatures, disease, drought, pests, or casualty, this section shall not apply to any costs of the taxpayer of replanting plants bearing the same type of crop (whether on the same parcel of land on which such lost or damaged plants were located or any other parcel of land of the same acreage in the United States).

(B) Special rule for person with minority interest who materially participates Subparagraph (A) shall apply to amounts paid or incurred by a person (other than the taxpayer described in subparagraph (A)) if—
(i) the taxpayer described in subparagraph (A) has an equity interest of more than 50 percent in the plants described in subparagraph (A) at all times during the taxable year in which such amounts were paid or incurred, and
(ii) such other person holds any part of the remaining equity interest and materially participates in the planting, maintenance, cultivation, or development of the plants described in subparagraph (A) during the taxable year in which such amounts were paid or incurred.
The determination of whether an individual materially participates in any activity shall be made in a manner similar to the manner in which such determination is made under section 2032A(e)(6).
(C) Special temporary rule for citrus plants lost by reason of casualty
(i) In general In the case of the replanting of citrus plants, subparagraph (A) shall apply to amounts paid or incurred by a person (other than the taxpayer described in subparagraph (A)) if—
(I) the taxpayer described in subparagraph (A) has an equity interest of not less than 50 percent in the replanted citrus plants at all times during the taxable year in which such amounts were paid or incurred and such other person holds any part of the remaining equity interest, or
(II) such other person acquired the entirety of such taxpayer’s equity interest in the land on which the lost or damaged citrus plants were located at the time of such loss or damage, and the replanting is on such land.
(ii) Termination

Clause (i) shall not apply to any cost paid or incurred after the date which is 10 years after the date of the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

(3) Election to have this section not apply
(A) In general

If a taxpayer makes an election under this paragraph, this section shall not apply to any plant produced in any farming business carried on by such taxpayer.

(B) Certain persons not eligible

No election may be made under this paragraph by a corporation, partnership, or tax shelter, if such corporation, partnership, or tax shelter is required to use an accrual method of accounting under section 447 or 448(a)(3).

(C) Special rule for citrus and almond growers

An election under this paragraph shall not apply with respect to any item which is attributable to the planting, cultivation, maintenance, or development of any citrus or almond grove (or part thereof) and which is incurred before the close of the 4th taxable year beginning with the taxable year in which the trees were planted. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the portion of a citrus or almond grove planted in 1 taxable year shall be treated separately from the portion of such grove planted in another taxable year.

(D) Election

Unless the Secretary otherwise consents, an election under this paragraph may be made only for the taxpayer’s 1st taxable year which begins after December 31, 1986, and during which the taxpayer engages in a farming business. Any such election, once made, may be revoked only with the consent of the Secretary.

(e) Definitions and special rules for purposes of subsection (d)
(1) Recapture of expensed amounts on disposition
(A) In general In the case of any plant with respect to which amounts would have been capitalized under subsection (a) but for an election under subsection (d)(3)—
(i) such plant (if not otherwise section 1245 property) shall be treated as section 1245 property, and
(ii) for purposes of section 1245, the recapture amount shall be treated as a deduction allowed for depreciation with respect to such property.
(B) Recapture amount

For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term “recapture amount” means any amount allowable as a deduction to the taxpayer which, but for an election under subsection (d)(3), would have been capitalized with respect to the plant.

(2) Effects of election on depreciation
(A) In general

If the taxpayer (or any related person) makes an election under subsection (d)(3), the provisions of section 168(g)(2) (relating to alternative depreciation) shall apply to all property of the taxpayer used predominantly in the farming business and placed in service in any taxable year during which any such election is in effect.

(B) Related person For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term “related person” means—
(i) the taxpayer and members of the taxpayer’s family,
(ii) any corporation (including an S corporation) if 50 percent or more (in value) of the stock of such corporation is owned (directly or through the application of section 318) by the taxpayer or members of the taxpayer’s family,
(iii) a corporation and any other corporation which is a member of the same controlled group described in section 1563(a)(1), and
(iv) any partnership if 50 percent or more (in value) of the interests in such partnership is owned directly or indirectly by the taxpayer or members of the taxpayer’s family.
(C) Members of family

For purposes of this paragraph, the term “family” means the taxpayer, the spouse of the taxpayer, and any of their children who have not attained age 18 before the close of the taxable year.

(3) Preproductive period
(A) In general For purposes of this section, the term “preproductive period” means—
(i) in the case of a plant which will have more than 1 crop or yield, the period before the 1st marketable crop or yield from such plant, or
(ii) in the case of any other plant, the period before such plant is reasonably expected to be disposed of.
For purposes of this subparagraph, use by the taxpayer in a farming business of any supply produced in such business shall be treated as a disposition.
(B) Rule for determining period

In the case of a plant grown in commercial quantities in the United States, the preproductive period for such plant if grown in the United States shall be based on the nationwide weighted average preproductive period for such plant.

(4) Farming business For purposes of this section—
(A) In general

The term “farming business” means the trade or business of farming.

(B) Certain trades and businesses included The term “farming business” shall include the trade or business of—
(i) operating a nursery or sod farm, or
(ii) the raising or harvesting of trees bearing fruit, nuts, or other crops, or ornamental trees.
For purposes of clause (ii), an evergreen tree which is more than 6 years old at the time severed from the roots shall not be treated as an ornamental tree.
(5) Certain inventory valuation methods permitted

The Secretary shall by regulations permit the taxpayer to use reasonable inventory valuation methods to compute the amount required to be capitalized under subsection (a) in the case of any plant.

(f) Special rules for allocation of interest to property produced by the taxpayer
(1) Interest capitalized only in certain cases Subsection (a) shall only apply to interest costs which are—
(A) paid or incurred during the production period, and
(B) allocable to property which is described in subsection (b)(1) and which has—
(i) a long useful life,
(ii) an estimated production period exceeding 2 years, or
(iii) an estimated production period exceeding 1 year and a cost exceeding $1,000,000.
(2) Allocation rules
(A) In general In determining the amount of interest required to be capitalized under subsection (a) with respect to any property—
(i) interest on any indebtedness directly attributable to production expenditures with respect to such property shall be assigned to such property, and
(ii) interest on any other indebtedness shall be assigned to such property to the extent that the taxpayer’s interest costs could have been reduced if production expenditures (not attributable to indebtedness described in clause (i)) had not been incurred.
(B) Exception for qualified residence interest

Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to any qualified residence interest (within the meaning of section 163(h)).

(C) Special rule for flow-through entities

Except as provided in regulations, in the case of any flow-through entity, this paragraph shall be applied first at the entity level and then at the beneficiary level.

(3) Interest relating to property used to produce property

This subsection shall apply to any interest on indebtedness allocable (as determined under paragraph (2)) to property used to produce property to which this subsection applies to the extent such interest is allocable (as so determined) to the produced property.

(4) Exemption for aging process of beer, wine, and distilled spirits For purposes of this subsection, the production period shall not include the aging period for—
(A) beer (as defined in section 5052(a)),
(B) wine (as described in section 5041(a)), or
(C) distilled spirits (as defined in section 5002(a)(8)), except such spirits that are unfit for use for beverage purposes.
(5) Definitions For purposes of this subsection—
(A) Long useful life Property has a long useful life if such property is—
(i) real property, or
(ii) property with a class life of 20 years or more (as determined under section 168).
(B) Production period The term “production period” means, when used with respect to any property, the period—
(i) beginning on the date on which production of the property begins, and
(ii) except as provided in paragraph (4), ending on the date on which the property is ready to be placed in service or is ready to be held for sale.
(C) Production expenditures

The term “production expenditures” means the costs (whether or not incurred during the production period) required to be capitalized under subsection (a) with respect to the property.

(g) Production For purposes of this section—
(1) In general

The term “produce” includes construct, build, install, manufacture, develop, or improve.

(2) Treatment of property produced under contract for the taxpayer

The taxpayer shall be treated as producing any property produced for the taxpayer under a contract with the taxpayer; except that only costs paid or incurred by the taxpayer (whether under such contract or otherwise) shall be taken into account in applying subsection (a) to the taxpayer.

(h) Exemption for free lance authors, photographers, and artists
(1) In general

Nothing in this section shall require the capitalization of any qualified creative expense.

(2) Qualified creative expense For purposes of this subsection, the term “qualified creative expense” means any expense—
(A) which is paid or incurred by an individual in the trade or business of such individual (other than as an employee) of being a writer, photographer, or artist, and
(B) which, without regard to this section, would be allowable as a deduction for the taxable year.
Such term does not include any expense related to printing, photographic plates, motion picture films, video tapes, or similar items.
(3) Definitions For purposes of this subsection—
(A) Writer

The term “writer” means any individual if the personal efforts of such individual create (or may reasonably be expected to create) a literary manuscript, musical composition (including any accompanying words), or dance score.

(B) Photographer

The term “photographer” means any individual if the personal efforts of such individual create (or may reasonably be expected to create) a photograph or photographic negative or transparency.

(C) Artist
(i) In general

The term “artist” means any individual if the personal efforts of such individual create (or may reasonably be expected to create) a picture, painting, sculpture, statue, etching, drawing, cartoon, graphic design, or original print edition.

(ii) Criteria In determining whether any expense is paid or incurred in the trade or business of being an artist, the following criteria shall be taken into account:
(I) The originality and uniqueness of the item created (or to be created).
(II) The predominance of aesthetic value over utilitarian value of the item created (or to be created).
(D) Treatment of certain corporations
(i) In general If—
(I) substantially all of the stock of a corporation is owned by a qualified employee-owner and members of his family (as defined in section 267(c)(4)), and
(II) the principal activity of such corporation is performance of personal services directly related to the activities of the qualified employee-owner and such services are substantially performed by the qualified employee-owner,
this subsection shall apply to any expense of such corporation which directly relates to the activities of such employee-owner in the same manner as if such expense were incurred by such employee-owner.
(ii) Qualified employee-owner

For purposes of this subparagraph, the term “qualified employee-owner” means any individual who is an employee-owner of the corporation (as defined in section 269A(b)(2)) and who is a writer, photographer, or artist.

(i) Exemption for certain small businesses
(1) In general

In the case of any taxpayer (other than a tax shelter prohibited from using the cash receipts and disbursements method of accounting under section 448(a)(3)) which meets the gross receipts test of section 448(c) for any taxable year, this section shall not apply with respect to such taxpayer for such taxable year.

(2) Application of gross receipts test to individuals, etc.

In the case of any taxpayer which is not a corporation or a partnership, the gross receipts test of section 448(c) shall be applied in the same manner as if each trade or business of such taxpayer were a corporation or partnership.

(3) Coordination with section 481

Any change in method of accounting made pursuant to this subsection shall be treated for purposes of section 481 as initiated by the taxpayer and made with the consent of the Secretary.

(j) Regulations The Secretary shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of this section, including—
(1) regulations to prevent the use of related parties, pass-thru entities, or intermediaries to avoid the application of this section, and
(2) regulations providing for simplified procedures for the application of this section in the case of property described in subsection (b)(2).

(Added Pub. L. 99–514, title VIII, § 803(a), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2350; amended Pub. L. 100–647, title I, § 1008(b)(1)–(4), title VI, § 6026(a)–(c), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3437, 3438, 3691–3693; Pub. L. 101–239, title VII, § 7816(d)(1), Dec. 19, 1989, 103 Stat. 2420; Pub. L. 106–170, title V, § 532(c)(2)(B), Dec. 17, 1999, 113 Stat. 1930; Pub. L. 108–357, title III, § 338(b)(2), Oct. 22, 2004, 118 Stat. 1481; Pub. L. 109–58, title XIII, § 1329(b), Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 1020; Pub. L. 114–113, div. Q, title I, § 143(b)(6)(H), Dec. 18, 2015, 129 Stat. 3064; Pub. L. 115–97, title I, §§ 13102(b), 13207(a), 13801(a), (b), Dec. 22, 2017, 131 Stat. 2103, 2113, 2169, 2170; Pub. L. 116–94, div. Q, title I, § 144(a)(1), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 3234; Pub. L. 116–260, div. EE, title I, § 106(a)(1), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 3041; Pub. L. 119–21, title VII, § 70302(b)(7)(B), July 4, 2025, 139 Stat. 192.)

Terms defined here

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Regulations under this section

Treasury regulations (26 CFR) issued under § 263A

Cross-references

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

This section cites 18 other sections

Cited by 17 Code sections

Cited in 51 regulations not issued under it

Show 27 more

Amendment history

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

  1. Amended by Pub. L. 119–21Parts changed in 2025: (c)(2)
  2. Amended by Pub. L. 116–260Parts changed in 2020: (f)(4)
  3. Amended by Pub. L. 116–94Parts changed in 2019: (f)(4)(B)
  4. Amended by Pub. L. 115–97Parts changed in 2017: (b)(2) (d)(2)(C) (f)(4) (f)(5)(B)(ii) (i)
  5. Amended by Pub. L. 114–113Parts changed in 2015: (c)(7)
  6. Amended by Pub. L. 109–58Parts changed in 2005: (c)(3)
  7. Amended by Pub. L. 108–357Parts changed in 2004: (c)(3)
  8. Amended by Pub. L. 106–170Parts changed in 1999: (b)(2)(A)
  9. Amended by Pub. L. 101–239Parts changed in 1989: (h)(3)(D)
  10. Amended by Pub. L. 100–647Parts changed in 1988: (a)(2) (c)(3) (c)(6) (d)(1) (d)(1)(A) (d)(2)(B)(i) (d)(2)(B)(ii) (d)(3)(A) (d)(3)(B) (e) (f)(3) (h)
  11. Added by Pub. L. 99–514

Where it sits in the Code

  1. Subtitle A Income Taxes
  2. Chapter 1 NORMAL TAXES AND SURTAXES
  3. Subchapter B Computation of Taxable Income
  4. Part IX ITEMS NOT DEDUCTIBLE

Nearby sections

Official notes

The Law Revision Counsel's notes for this section (amendments, effective dates and related laws) are long, so they have their own page.