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Internal Revenue Code · 26 U.S.C.

§ 381. Carryovers in certain corporate acquisitions

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. § 381

At a glance

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

Status
In force
Enacted
September 2, 1958 by Pub. L. 85–866
Last amended
March 23, 2018 by Pub. L. 115–141
Amendments
25 dated changes in the source credit
Length
3 subsections · 2,940 words · about 13 min to read
Cross-references
cites 22; cited by 12 Code sections and 177 other regulations
Regulations
29 issued under this section
(a) General rule In the case of the acquisition of assets of a corporation by another corporation—
(1) in a distribution to such other corporation to which section 332 (relating to liquidations of subsidiaries) applies; or
(2) in a transfer to which section 361 (relating to nonrecognition of gain or loss to corporations) applies, but only if the transfer is in connection with a reorganization described in subparagraph (A), (C), (D), (F), or (G) of section 368(a)(1),
the acquiring corporation shall succeed to and take into account, as of the close of the day of distribution or transfer, the items described in subsection (c) of the distributor or transferor corporation, subject to the conditions and limitations specified in subsections (b) and (c). For purposes of the preceding sentence, a reorganization shall be treated as meeting the requirements of subparagraph (D) or (G) of section 368(a)(1) only if the requirements of subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section 354(b)(1) are met.
(b) Operating rules Except in the case of an acquisition in connection with a reorganization described in subparagraph (F) of section 368(a)(1)—
(1) The taxable year of the distributor or transferor corporation shall end on the date of distribution or transfer.
(2) For purposes of this section, the date of distribution or transfer shall be the day on which the distribution or transfer is completed; except that, under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, the date when substantially all of the property has been distributed or transferred may be used if the distributor or transferor corporation ceases all operations, other than liquidating activities, after such date.
(3) The corporation acquiring property in a distribution or transfer described in subsection (a) shall not be entitled to carry back a net operating loss or a net capital loss for a taxable year ending after the date of distribution or transfer to a taxable year of the distributor or transferor corporation.
(c) Items of the distributor or transferor corporation The items referred to in subsection (a) are:
(1) Net operating loss carryovers The net operating loss carryovers determined under section 172, subject to the following conditions and limitations:
(A) The taxable year of the acquiring corporation to which the net operating loss carryovers of the distributor or transferor corporation are first carried shall be the first taxable year ending after the date of distribution or transfer.
(B) In determining the net operating loss deduction, the portion of such deduction attributable to the net operating loss carryovers of the distributor or transferor corporation to the first taxable year of the acquiring corporation ending after the date of distribution or transfer shall be limited to an amount which bears the same ratio to the taxable income (determined without regard to a net operating loss deduction) of the acquiring corporation in such taxable year as the number of days in the taxable year after the date of distribution or transfer bears to the total number of days in the taxable year.
(C) For the purpose of determining the amount of the net operating loss carryovers under section 172(b)(2), a net operating loss for a taxable year (hereinafter in this subparagraph referred to as the “loss year”) of a distributor or transferor corporation which ends on or before the end of a loss year of the acquiring corporation shall be considered to be a net operating loss for a year prior to such loss year of the acquiring corporation. For the same purpose, the taxable income for a “prior taxable year” (as the term is used in section 172(b)(2)) shall be computed as provided in such section; except that, if the date of distribution or transfer is on a day other than the last day of a taxable year of the acquiring corporation—
(i) such taxable year shall (for the purpose of this subparagraph only) be considered to be 2 taxable years (hereinafter in this subparagraph referred to as the “pre-acquisition part year” and the “post-acquisition part year”);
(ii) the pre-acquisition part year shall begin on the same day as such taxable year begins and shall end on the date of distribution or transfer;
(iii) the post-acquisition part year shall begin on the day following the date of distribution or transfer and shall end on the same day as the end of such taxable year;
(iv) the taxable income for such taxable year (computed with the modifications specified in section 172(b)(2)(A) but without a net operating loss deduction) shall be divided between the pre-acquisition part year and the post-acquisition part year in proportion to the number of days in each;
(v) the net operating loss deduction for the pre-acquisition part year shall be determined as provided in section 172(b)(2)(B),11 See References in Text note below. but without regard to a net operating loss year of the distributor or transferor corporation; and
(vi) the net operating loss deduction for the post-acquisition part year shall be determined as provided in section 172(b)(2)(B).1
(2) Earnings and profits In the case of a distribution or transfer described in subsection (a)—
(A) the earnings and profits or deficit in earnings and profits, as the case may be, of the distributor or transferor corporation shall, subject to subparagraph (B), be deemed to have been received or incurred by the acquiring corporation as of the close of the date of the distribution or transfer; and
(B) a deficit in earnings and profits of the distributor, transferor, or acquiring corporation shall be used only to offset earnings and profits accumulated after the date of transfer. For this purpose, the earnings and profits for the taxable year of the acquiring corporation in which the distribution or transfer occurs shall be deemed to have been accumulated after such distribution or transfer in an amount which bears the same ratio to the undistributed earnings and profits of the acquiring corporation for such taxable year (computed without regard to any earnings and profits received from the distributor or transferor corporation, as described in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph) as the number of days in the taxable year after the date of distribution or transfer bears to the total number of days in the taxable year.
(3) Capital loss carryover The capital loss carryover determined under section 1212, subject to the following conditions and limitations:
(A) The taxable year of the acquiring corporation to which the capital loss carryover of the distributor or transferor corporation is first carried shall be the first taxable year ending after the date of distribution or transfer.
(B) The capital loss carryover shall be a short-term capital loss in the taxable year determined under subparagraph (A) but shall be limited to an amount which bears the same ratio to the capital gain net income (determined without regard to a short-term capital loss attributable to capital loss carryover), if any, of the acquiring corporation in such taxable year as the number of days in the taxable year after the date of distribution or transfer bears to the total number of days in the taxable year.
(C) For purposes of determining the amount of such capital loss carryover to taxable years following the taxable year determined under subparagraph (A), the capital gain net income in the taxable year determined under subparagraph (A) shall be considered to be an amount equal to the amount determined under subparagraph (B).
(4) Method of accounting

The acquiring corporation shall use the method of accounting used by the distributor or transferor corporation on the date of distribution or transfer unless different methods were used by several distributor or transferor corporations or by a distributor or transferor corporation and the acquiring corporation. If different methods were used, the acquiring corporation shall use the method or combination of methods of computing taxable income adopted pursuant to regulations prescribed by the Secretary.

(5) Inventories

In any case in which inventories are received by the acquiring corporation, such inventories shall be taken by such corporation (in determining its income) on the same basis on which such inventories were taken by the distributor or transferor corporation, unless different methods were used by several distributor or transferor corporations or by a distributor or transferor corporation and the acquiring corporation. If different methods were used, the acquiring corporation shall use the method or combination of methods of taking inventory adopted pursuant to regulations prescribed by the Secretary.

(6) Method of computing depreciation allowance

The acquiring corporation shall be treated as the distributor or transferor corporation for purposes of computing the depreciation allowance under sections 167 and 168 on property acquired in a distribution or transfer with respect to so much of the basis in the hands of the acquiring corporation as does not exceed the adjusted basis in the hands of the distributor or transferor corporation.

[(7) Repealed. June 15, 1955, ch. 143, § 2(1), 69 Stat. 134]
(8) Installment method

If the acquiring corporation acquires installment obligations (the income from which the distributor or transferor corporation reports on the installment basis under section 453) the acquiring corporation shall, for purposes of section 453, be treated as if it were the distributor or transferor corporation.

(9) Amortization of bond discount or premium

If the acquiring corporation assumes liability for bonds of the distributor or transferor corporation issued at a discount or premium, the acquiring corporation shall be treated as the distributor or transferor corporation after the date of distribution or transfer for purposes of determining the amount of amortization allowable or includible with respect to such discount or premium.

(10) Treatment of certain mining development and exploration expenses of distributor or transferor corporation

The acquiring corporation shall be entitled to deduct, as if it were the distributor or transferor corporation, expenses deferred under section 616 (relating to certain development expenditures) if the distributor or transferor corporation has so elected.

(11) Contributions to pension plans, employees’ annuity plans, and stock bonus and profit-sharing plans

The acquiring corporation shall be considered to be the distributor or transferor corporation after the date of distribution or transfer for the purpose of determining the amounts deductible under section 404 with respect to pension plans, employees’ annuity plans, and stock bonus and profit-sharing plans.

(12) Recovery of tax benefit items

If the acquiring corporation is entitled to the recovery of any amounts previously deducted by (or allowable as credits to) the distributor or transferor corporation, the acquiring corporation shall succeed to the treatment under section 111 which would apply to such amounts in the hands of the distributor or transferor corporation.

(13) Involuntary conversions under section 1033

The acquiring corporation shall be treated as the distributor or transferor corporation after the date of distribution or transfer for purposes of applying section 1033.

(14) Dividend carryover to personal holding com­pany

The dividend carryover (described in section 564) to taxable years ending after the date of distribution or transfer.

[(15) Repealed. Pub. L. 101–508, title XI, § 11801(c)(10)(A), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–526]
(16) Certain obligations of distributor or transferor corporation If the acquiring corporation—
(A) assumes an obligation of the distributor or transferor corporation which, after the date of the distribution or transfer, gives rise to a liability, and
(B) such liability, if paid or accrued by the distributor or transferor corporation, would have been deductible in computing its taxable income,
the acquiring corporation shall be entitled to deduct such items when paid or accrued, as the case may be, as if such corporation were the distributor or transferor corporation. This paragraph shall not apply if such obligations are reflected in the amount of stock, securities, or property transferred by the acquiring corporation to the transferor corporation for the property of the transferor corporation.
(17) Deficiency dividend of personal holding company

If the acquiring corporation pays a deficiency dividend (as defined in section 547(d)) with respect to the distributor or transferor corporation, such distributor or transferor corporation shall, with respect to such payments, be entitled to the deficiency dividend deduction provided in section 547.

(18) Percentage depletion on extraction of ores or minerals from the waste or residue of prior mining

The acquiring corporation shall be considered to be the distributor or transferor corporation for the purpose of determining the applicability of section 613(c)(3) (relating to extraction of ores or minerals from the ground).

(19) Charitable contributions in excess of prior years’ limitations

Contributions made in the taxable year ending on the date of distribution or transfer and the 4 prior taxable years by the distributor or transferor corporation in excess of the amount deductible under section 170(b)(2) for such taxable years shall be deductible by the acquiring corporation for its taxable years which begin after the date of distribution or transfer, subject to the limitations imposed in section 170(b)(2). In applying the preceding sentence, each taxable year of the distributor or transferor corporation beginning on or before the date of distribution or transfer shall be treated as a prior taxable year with reference to the acquiring corporation’s taxable years beginning after such date.

(20) Carryforward of disallowed business interest

The carryover of disallowed business interest described in section 163(j)(2) to taxable years ending after the date of distribution or transfer.

[(21) Repealed. Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, § 1901(b)(16), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1796]
(22) Successor insurance company

If the acquiring corporation is an insurance company taxable under subchapter L, there shall be taken into account (to the extent proper to carry out the purposes of this section and of subchapter L, and under such regulations as may be prescribed by the Secretary) the items required to be taken into account for purposes of subchapter L in respect of the distributor or transferor corporation.

(23) Deficiency dividend of regulated investment company or real estate investment trust

If the acquiring corporation pays a deficiency dividend (as defined in section 860(f)) with respect to the distributor or transferor corporation, such distributor or transferor corporation shall, with respect to such payments, be entitled to the deficiency dividend deduction provided in section 860.

(24) Credit under section 38

The acquiring corporation shall take into account (to the extent proper to carry out the purposes of this section and section 38, and under such regulations as may be prescribed by the Secretary) the items required to be taken into account for purposes of section 38 in respect of the distributor or transferor corporation.

(25) Credit under section 53

The acquiring corporation shall take into account (to the extent proper to carry out the purposes of this section and section 53, and under such regulations as may be prescribed by the Secretary) the items required to be taken into account for purposes of section 53 in respect of the distributor or transferor corporation.

(26) Enterprise zone provisions

The acquiring corporation shall take into account (to the extent proper to carry out the purposes of this section and subchapter U, and under such regulations as may be prescribed by the Secretary) the items required to be taken into account for purposes of subchapter U in respect of the distributor or transferor corporation.

(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 124; June 15, 1955, ch. 143, § 2(1), 69 Stat. 134; Jan. 28, 1956, ch. 15, § 1, 70 Stat. 7; Pub. L. 85–866, title I, § 29(c), Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1628; Pub. L. 86–69, § 3(c), June 25, 1959, 73 Stat. 139; Pub. L. 87–834, § 2(d), Oct. 16, 1962, 76 Stat. 971; Pub. L. 88–272, title II, §§ 209(d)(2), 225(i)(3), Feb. 26, 1964, 78 Stat. 46, 92; Pub. L. 90–240, § 5(d), Jan. 2, 1968, 81 Stat. 778; Pub. L. 91–172, title V, §§ 504(c)(2), 512(c), 521(f), Dec. 30, 1969, 83 Stat. 633, 639, 654; Pub. L. 92–178, title VI, § 601(c)(3), Dec. 10, 1971, 85 Stat. 557; Pub. L. 94–455, title XVI, § 1601(e), title XIX, §§ 1901(a)(54), (b)(16), (17), (21)(B), (33)(N), 1906(b)(13)(A), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1746, 1773, 1796, 1797, 1802, 1834; Pub. L. 95–30, title II, § 202(d)(3)(A), May 23, 1977, 91 Stat. 148; Pub. L. 95–600, title III, § 362(d)(2), Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2851; Pub. L. 96–223, title II, § 232(b)(2)(B), Apr. 2, 1980, 94 Stat. 276; Pub. L. 96–471, § 2(b)(2), Oct. 19, 1980, 94 Stat. 2253; Pub. L. 96–589, § 4(g), Dec. 24, 1980, 94 Stat. 3404; Pub. L. 97–34, title II, §§ 208, 221(b)(1)(B), title III, § 331(d)(1)(B), Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 226, 246, 294; Pub. L. 97–248, title II, § 224(c)(7), Sept. 3, 1982, 96 Stat. 489; Pub. L. 97–448, title I, §§ 102(h)(3), 103(g)(2)(F), Jan. 12, 1983, 96 Stat. 2372, 2379; Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title II, § 211(b)(4), title IV, § 474(r)(11), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 754, 841; Pub. L. 99–514, title II, § 231(d)(3)(F), title IV, § 411(b)(2)(C)(iii), title VII, § 701(e)(1), title XVIII, § 1812(a)(3), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2179, 2227, 2342, 2833; Pub. L. 100–203, title X, § 10202(c)(3), Dec. 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 1330–392; Pub. L. 100–647, title I, § 1002(a)(13), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3355; Pub. L. 101–239, title VII, § 7841(d)(10), Dec. 19, 1989, 103 Stat. 2428; Pub. L. 101–508, title XI, §§ 11801(c)(10)(A), 11812(b)(6), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–526, 1388–535; Pub. L. 103–66, title XIII, § 13302(e), Aug. 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 556; Pub. L. 104–188, title I, § 1704(t)(26), Aug. 20, 1996, 110 Stat. 1888; Pub. L. 115–97, title I, §§ 13301(b)(1), 13511(b)(3), Dec. 22, 2017, 131 Stat. 2121, 2142; Pub. L. 115–141, div. U, title IV, § 401(b)(18), Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1202.)

Regulations under this section

Treasury regulations (26 CFR) issued under § 381

Cross-references

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

This section cites 22 other sections

Cited by 12 Code sections

Cited in 177 regulations not issued under it

Show 120 more

And 33 more; search the reader to find them.

Amendment history

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

  1. Amended by Pub. L. 115–141Parts changed in 2018: (c)(16)
  2. Amended by Pub. L. 115–97Parts changed in 2017: (c)(20) (d)
  3. Amended by Pub. L. 104–188Parts changed in 1996: (c)(26)
  4. Amended by Pub. L. 103–66Parts changed in 1993: (c)(26)
  5. Amended by Pub. L. 101–508Parts changed in 1990: (c)(6) (c)(15) (c)(24)
  6. Amended by Pub. L. 101–239Parts changed in 1989: (c)(26)
  7. Amended by Pub. L. 100–647Parts changed in 1988: (c)(24)
  8. Amended by Pub. L. 100–203Parts changed in 1987: (c)(8)
  9. Amended by Pub. L. 99–514Parts changed in 1986: (c)(10) (c)(12) (c)(25) (c)(27)
  10. Amended by Pub. L. 98–369Parts changed in 1984: (c)(23) (c)(24) (c)(25) (c)(26) (c)(27) (c)(28) (c)(30) (d)
  11. Amended by Pub. L. 97–448Parts changed in 1983: (c)(28) (c)(30)
  12. Amended by Pub. L. 97–248Parts changed in 1982: (a)(1)
  13. Amended by Pub. L. 97–34Parts changed in 1981: (c)(28) (c)(29)
  14. Amended by Pub. L. 96–589Parts changed in 1980: (a) (a)(2) (c)(8) (c)(27)
  15. Amended by Pub. L. 96–471
  16. Amended by Pub. L. 96–223
  17. Amended by Pub. L. 95–600Parts changed in 1978: (c)(25)
  18. Amended by Pub. L. 95–30Parts changed in 1977: (c)(26)
  19. Amended by Pub. L. 94–455Parts changed in 1976: (b)(2) (c)(3) (c)(4) (c)(10) (c)(15) (c)(20) (c)(21) (c)(22) (c)(25)
  20. Amended by Pub. L. 92–178Parts changed in 1971: (c)(24)
  21. Amended by Pub. L. 91–172Parts changed in 1969: (b)(3) (c)(6) (c)(10)
  22. Amended by Pub. L. 90–240Parts changed in 1968: (c)(22)
  23. Amended by Pub. L. 88–272Parts changed in 1964: (c)(15) (c)(19)
  24. Amended by Pub. L. 87–834Parts changed in 1962: (c)(23)
  25. Amended by Pub. L. 86–69Parts changed in 1959: (c)(22) (d)
  26. Enacted by Pub. L. 85–866Parts changed in 1958: (c)(21)

Where it sits in the Code

  1. Subtitle A Income Taxes
  2. Chapter 1 NORMAL TAXES AND SURTAXES
  3. Subchapter C Corporate Distributions and Adjustments
  4. Part V CARRYOVERS

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.