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Internal Revenue Code · 26 U.S.C.

§ 280H. Limitation on certain amounts paid to employee-owners by personal service corporations electing alternative taxable years

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. § 280H

At a glance

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

Status
In force
Added
December 22, 1987 by Pub. L. 100–203
Last amended
November 10, 1988 by Pub. L. 100–647
Amendments
1 dated changes in the source credit
Length
6 subsections · 611 words · about 3 min to read
Defines
8 terms
Cross-references
cites 3; cited by 2 Code sections and 2 other regulations
Regulations
2 issued under this section
(a) General rule If—
(1) an election by a personal service corporation under section 444 is in effect for a taxable year, and
(2) such corporation does not meet the minimum distribution requirements of subsection (c) for such taxable year,
then the deduction otherwise allowed under this chapter for applicable amounts paid or incurred by such corporation to employee-owners shall not exceed the maximum deductible amount. The preceding sentence shall not apply for purposes of subchapter G (relating to personal holding companies).
(b) Carryover of nondeductible amounts

If any amount is not allowed as a deduction for a taxable year under subsection (a), such amount shall be treated as paid or incurred in the succeeding taxable year.

(c) Minimum distribution requirement For purposes of this section—
(1) In general A personal service corporation meets the minimum distribution requirements of this subsection if the applicable amounts paid or incurred during the deferral period of the taxable year (determined without regard to subsection (b)) equal or exceed the lesser of—
(A) the product of—
(i) the applicable amounts paid during the preceding taxable year, divided by the number of months in such taxable year, multiplied by
(ii) the number of months in the deferral period of the preceding taxable year, or
(B) the applicable percentage of the adjusted taxable income for the deferral period of the taxable year.
(2) Applicable percentage The term “applicable percentage” means the percentage (not in excess of 95 percent) determined by dividing—
(A) the applicable amounts paid or incurred during the 3 taxable years immediately preceding the taxable year, by
(B) the adjusted taxable income of such corporation for such 3 taxable years.
(d) Maximum deductible amount For purposes of this section, the term “maximum deductible amount” means the sum of—
(1) the applicable amounts paid during the deferral period, plus
(2) an amount equal to the product of—
(A) the amount determined under paragraph (1), divided by the number of months in the deferral period, multiplied by
(B) the number of months in the nondeferral period.
(e) Disallowance of net operating loss carrybacks

No net operating loss carryback shall be allowed to (or from) any taxable year of a personal service corporation to which an election under section 444 applies.

(f) Other definitions and special rules For purposes of this section—
(1) Applicable amount The term “applicable amount” means any amount paid to an employee-owner which is includible in the gross income of such employee, other than—
(A) any gain from the sale or exchange of property between the owner-employee and the corporation, or
(B) any dividend paid by the corporation.
(2) Employee-owner

The term “employee-owner” has the meaning given such term by section 269A(b)(2) (as modified by section 441(i)(2)).

(3) Nondeferral and deferral periods
(A) Deferral period

The term “deferral period” has the meaning given to such term by section 444(b)(4).

(B) Nondeferral period

The term “nondeferral period” means the portion of the taxable year of the personal service corporation which occurs after the portion of such year constituting the deferral period.

(4) Adjusted taxable income The term “adjusted taxable income” means taxable income determined without regard to—
(A) any amount paid to an employee-owner which is includible in the gross income of such employee-owner, and
(B) any net operating loss carryover to the extent such carryover is attributable to amounts described in subparagraph (A).
(5) Personal service corporation

The term “personal service corporation” has the meaning given to such term by section 441(i)(2).

(Added Pub. L. 100–203, title X, § 10206(c)(1), Dec. 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 1330–401; amended Pub. L. 100–647, title II, § 2004(e)(2)(B), (3), (14)(A), (C), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3600, 3602.)

Terms defined here

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

Regulations under this section

Treasury regulations (26 CFR) issued under § 280H

Cross-references

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

This section cites 3 other sections

Cited by 2 Code sections

Cited in 2 regulations not issued under it

Amendment history

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

  1. Amended by Pub. L. 100–647Parts changed in 1988: (c)(1)(A)(i) (f)(2) (f)(4) (f)(5)
  2. Added by Pub. L. 100–203

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

Amendments

1988—Subsecs. (c)(1)(A)(i), (d)(1). Pub. L. 100–647, § 2004(e)(14)(C), substituted “amounts paid” for “amounts paid or incurred”.

Subsec. (f)(2). Pub. L. 100–647, § 2004(e)(3), substituted “section 269A(b)(2) (as modified by section 441(i)(2))” for “section 296A(b)(2)”.

Subsec. (f)(4). Pub. L. 100–647, § 2004(e)(14)(A), amended par. (4) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (4) read as follows: “The term ‘adjusted taxable income’ means taxable income increased by any amount paid or incurred to an employee-owner which was includible in the gross income of such employee-owner.”

Subsec. (f)(5). Pub. L. 100–647, § 2004(e)(2)(B), added par. (5).

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 provisions of the Revenue Act of 1987, Pub. L. 100–203, title X, to which such amendment relates, see section 2004(u) of Pub. L. 100–647, set out as a note under section 56 of this title.

Effective Date

Section applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1986, see section 10206(d)(1) of Pub. L. 100–203, set out as a note under section 444 of this title.