Skip to content

General education, not advice for your situation.

Carry Forward Learning Start here Intern0 XP

Internal Revenue Code · 26 U.S.C.

§ 277. Deductions incurred by certain membership organizations in transactions with members

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. § 277

At a glance

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

Status
In force
Added
December 30, 1969 by Pub. L. 91–172
Last amended
December 19, 2014 by Pub. L. 113–295
Amendments
3 dated changes in the source credit
Length
2 subsections · 308 words · about 1 min to read
Cross-references
cites 3; cited by 1 Code section and 3 other regulations
(a) General rule

In the case of a social club or other membership organization which is operated primarily to furnish services or goods to members and which is not exempt from taxation, deductions for the taxable year attributable to furnishing services, insurance, goods, or other items of value to members shall be allowed only to the extent of income derived during such year from members or transactions with members (including income derived during such year from institutes and trade shows which are primarily for the education of members). If for any taxable year such deductions exceed such income, the excess shall be treated as a deduction attributable to furnishing services, insurance, goods, or other items of value to members paid or incurred in the succeeding taxable year. The deductions provided by sections 243 and 245 (relating to dividends received by corporations) shall not be allowed to any organization to which this section applies for the taxable year.

(b) Exceptions Subsection (a) shall not apply to any organization—
(1) which for the taxable year is subject to taxation under subchapter H or L,
(2) which has made an election before October 9, 1969, under section 456(c) or which is affiliated with such an organization,
(3) which for each day of any taxable year is a national securities exchange subject to regulation under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or a contract market subject to regulation under the Commodity Exchange Act, or
(4) which is engaged primarily in the gathering and distribution of news to its members for publication.

(Added Pub. L. 91–172, title I, § 121(b)(3)(A), Dec. 30, 1969, 83 Stat. 540; amended Pub. L. 94–568, § 1(c), Oct. 20, 1976, 90 Stat. 2697; Pub. L. 99–514, title XVI, § 1604(a), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2769; Pub. L. 113–295, div. A, title II, § 221(a)(41)(G), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 4044.)

Cross-references

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

This section cites 3 other sections

Cited by 1 Code section

Cited in 3 regulations not issued under it

Amendment history

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

  1. Amended by Pub. L. 113–295Parts changed in 2014: (a)
  2. Amended by Pub. L. 99–514Parts changed in 1986: (b)(4)
  3. Amended by Pub. L. 94–568Parts changed in 1976: (a)
  4. Added by Pub. L. 91–172

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

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

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, referred to in subsec. (b)(3), is act June 6, 1934, ch. 404, 48 Stat. 881, which is classified principally to chapter 2B (§ 78a et seq.) of Title 15, Commerce and Trade. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 78a of Title 15 and Tables.

The Commodity Exchange Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(3), is act Sept. 21, 1922, ch. 369, 42 Stat. 998, which is classified generally to chapter 1 (§ 1 et seq.) of Title 7, Agriculture. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1 of Title 7 and Tables.

Amendments

2014—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 113–295 struck out “, 244,” after “sections 243”.

1986—Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 99–514 added par. (4).

1976—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 94–568 provided that the deductions provided by sections 243, 244, and 245 (relating to dividends received by corporations) shall not be allowed to any organization to which this section applies for the taxable year.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2014 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 113–295 not applicable to preferred stock issued before Oct. 1, 1942 (determined in the same manner as under section 247 of this title as in effect before its repeal by Pub. L. 113–295), see section 221(a)(41)(K) of Pub. L. 113–295, set out as a note under section 172 of this title.

Except as otherwise provided in section 221(a) of Pub. L. 113–295, amendment by Pub. L. 113–295 effective Dec. 19, 2014, subject to a savings provision, see section 221(b) of Pub. L. 113–295, set out as a note under section 1 of this title.

Effective Date of 1986 Amendment

Pub. L. 99–514, title XVI, § 1604(b), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2769, provided that: “The amendment made by this section [amending this section] shall apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 22, 1986].”

Effective Date of 1976 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 94–568 applicable to taxable years beginning after Oct. 20, 1976, see section 1(d) of Pub. L. 94–568, set out as a note under section 501 of this title.

Effective Date

Section applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1970, see section 121(g) of Pub. L. 91–172, set out as an Effective Date of 1969 Amendment note under section 511 of this title.