Internal Revenue Code · 26 U.S.C.

§ 453A. Special rules for nondealers

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. § 453A

At a glance

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

Status: In force
Added: October 19, 1980 by Pub. L. 96–471
Last amended: December 22, 2017 by Pub. L. 115–97
Amendments: 7 dated changes in the source credit
Length: 5 subsections · 1,245 words · about 5 min to read
Defines: 2 terms
Cross-references: cites 6; cited by 0 Code sections and 9 other regulations
Regulations: 3 issued under this section

¶(a) General rule In the case of an installment obligation to which this section applies—

¶(1) interest shall be paid on the deferred tax liability with respect to such obligation in the manner provided under subsection (c), and

¶(2) the pledging rules under subsection (d) shall apply.

¶(b) Installment obligations to which section applies

¶(1) In general

This section shall apply to any obligation which arises from the disposition of any property under the installment method, but only if the sales price of such property exceeds $150,000.

¶(2) Special rule for interest payments For purposes of subsection (a)(1), this section shall apply to an obligation described in paragraph (1) arising during a taxable year only if—

¶(A) such obligation is outstanding as of the close of such taxable year, and

¶(B) the face amount of all such obligations held by the taxpayer which arose during, and are outstanding as of the close of, such taxable year exceeds $5,000,000.

Except as provided in regulations, all persons treated as a single employer under subsection (a) or (b) of section 52 shall be treated as one person for purposes of this paragraph and subsection (c)(4).

¶(3) Exception for personal use and farm property An installment obligation shall not be treated as described in paragraph (1) if it arises from the disposition—

¶(A) by an individual of personal use property (within the meaning of section 1275(b)(3)), or

¶(B) of any property used or produced in the trade or business of farming (within the meaning of section 2032A(e)(4) or (5)).

¶(4) Special rule for timeshares and residential lots

An installment obligation shall not be treated as described in paragraph (1) if it arises from a disposition described in section 453(l)(2)(B), but the provisions of section 453(l)(3) (relating to interest payments on timeshares and residential lots) shall apply to such obligation.

¶(5) Sales price

For purposes of paragraph (1), all sales or exchanges which are part of the same transaction (or a series of related transactions) shall be treated as 1 sale or exchange.

¶(c) Interest on deferred tax liability

¶(1) In general

If an obligation to which this section applies is outstanding as of the close of any taxable year, the tax imposed by this chapter for such taxable year shall be increased by the amount of interest determined in the manner provided under paragraph (2).

¶(2) Computation of interest For purposes of paragraph (1), the interest for any taxable year shall be an amount equal to the product of—

¶(A) the applicable percentage of the deferred tax liability with respect to such obligation, multiplied by

¶(B) the underpayment rate in effect under section 6621(a)(2) for the month with or within which the taxable year ends.

¶(3) Deferred tax liability For purposes of this section, the term “deferred tax liability” means, with respect to any taxable year, the product of—

¶(A) the amount of gain with respect to an obligation which has not been recognized as of the close of such taxable year, multiplied by

¶(B) the maximum rate of tax in effect under section 1 or 11, whichever is appropriate, for such taxable year.

For purposes of applying the preceding sentence with respect to so much of the gain which, when recognized, will be treated as long-term capital gain, the maximum rate on net capital gain under section 1(h) shall be taken into account.

¶(4) Applicable percentage For purposes of this subsection, the term “applicable percentage” means, with respect to obligations arising in any taxable year, the percentage determined by dividing—

¶(A) the portion of the aggregate face amount of such obligations outstanding as of the close of such taxable year in excess of $5,000,000, by

¶(B) the aggregate face amount of such obligations outstanding as of the close of such taxable year.

¶(5) Treatment as interest

Any amount payable under this subsection shall be taken into account in computing the amount of any deduction allowable to the taxpayer for interest paid or accrued during the taxable year.

¶(6) Regulations

The Secretary shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this subsection including regulations providing for the application of this subsection in the case of contingent payments, short taxable years, and pass-thru entities.

¶(d) Pledges, etc., of installment obligations

¶(1) In general For purposes of section 453, if any indebtedness (hereinafter in this subsection referred to as “secured indebtedness”) is secured by an installment obligation to which this section applies, the net proceeds of the secured indebtedness shall be treated as a payment received on such installment obligation as of the later of—

¶(A) the time the indebtedness becomes secured indebtedness, or

¶(B) the time the proceeds of such indebtedness are received by the taxpayer.

¶(2) Limitation based on total contract price The amount treated as received under paragraph (1) by reason of any secured indebtedness shall not exceed the excess (if any) of—

¶(A) the total contract price, over

¶(B) any portion of the total contract price received under the contract before the later of the times referred to in subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1) (including amounts previously treated as received under paragraph (1) but not including amounts not taken into account by reason of paragraph (3)).

¶(3) Later payments treated as receipt of tax paid amounts

If any amount is treated as received under paragraph (1) with respect to any installment obligation, subsequent payments received on such obligation shall not be taken into account for purposes of section 453 to the extent that the aggregate of such subsequent payments does not exceed the aggregate amount treated as received under paragraph (1).

¶(4) Secured indebtedness

For purposes of this subsection indebtedness is secured by an installment obligation to the extent that payment of principal or interest on such indebtedness is directly secured (under the terms of the indebtedness or any underlying arrangements) by any interest in such installment obligation. A payment shall be treated as directly secured by an interest in an installment obligation to the extent an arrangement allows the taxpayer to satisfy all or a portion of the indebtedness with the installment obligation.

¶(e) Regulations The Secretary shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this section, including regulations—

¶(1) disallowing the use of the installment method in whole or in part for transactions in which the rules of this section otherwise would be avoided through the use of related persons, pass-thru entities, or intermediaries, and

¶(2) providing that the sale of an interest in a partnership or other pass-thru entity will be treated as a sale of the proportionate share of the assets of the partnership or other entity.

(Added Pub. L. 96–471, § 2(a), Oct. 19, 1980, 94 Stat. 2251; amended Pub. L. 99–514, title VIII, § 812(b), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2371; Pub. L. 100–203, title X, § 10202(c)[(1)], Dec. 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 1330–390; Pub. L. 100–647, title I, § 1008(g)(2), title II, § 2004(d)(2), (7), (8), title V, § 5076(a), (b)(1), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3442, 3599, 3600, 3682; Pub. L. 101–239, title VII, §§ 7812(c)(2), 7815(g), 7821(a)(1)–(3), (4)(B), Dec. 19, 1989, 103 Stat. 2412, 2420, 2423, 2424; Pub. L. 103–66, title XIII, § 13201(b)(4), Aug. 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 459; Pub. L. 106–170, title V, § 536(b), Dec. 17, 1999, 113 Stat. 1936; Pub. L. 115–97, title I, § 13001(b)(2)(C), Dec. 22, 2017, 131 Stat. 2096.)

Terms defined here

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

applicable percentage § 453A(c)(4)
deferred tax liability § 453A(c)(3)

Regulations under this section

Treasury regulations (26 CFR) issued under § 453A

Cross-references

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

This section cites 6 other sections

Cited in 9 regulations not issued under it

Amendment history

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

December 22, 2017Amended by Pub. L. 115–97Parts changed in 2017: (c)(3)
December 17, 1999Amended by Pub. L. 106–170Parts changed in 1999: (d)(4)
August 10, 1993Amended by Pub. L. 103–66Parts changed in 1993: (c)(3)
December 19, 1989Amended by Pub. L. 101–239Parts changed in 1989: (b)(2)(B) (b)(3) (c)(5) (d)(1)(B) (d)(2)(B)
November 10, 1988Amended by Pub. L. 100–647Parts changed in 1988: (b)(1) (b)(2) (b)(3) (c) (e)
December 22, 1987Amended by Pub. L. 100–203
October 22, 1986Amended by Pub. L. 99–514Parts changed in 1986: (a)(2) (c)
October 19, 1980Added by Pub. L. 96–471

Where it sits in the Code

Nearby sections

§ 451 General rule for taxable year of inclusion
§ 452 Repealed
§ 453 Installment method
§ 453A Special rules for nondealers
§ 453B Gain or loss on disposition of installment obligations
§ 453C Repealed
§ 454 Obligations issued at discount
§ 455 Prepaid subscription income

Official notes

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

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those comprising this section were contained in former section 453 of this title.

Amendments

2017—Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 115–97 struck out “or 1201 (whichever is appropriate)” after “1(h)” in concluding provisions.

1999—Subsec. (d)(4). Pub. L. 106–170 inserted at end “A payment shall be treated as directly secured by an interest in an installment obligation to the extent an arrangement allows the taxpayer to satisfy all or a portion of the indebtedness with the installment obligation.”

1993—Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 103–66 inserted at end “For purposes of applying the preceding sentence with respect to so much of the gain which, when recognized, will be treated as long-term capital gain, the maximum rate on net capital gain under section 1(h) or 1201 (whichever is appropriate) shall be taken into account.”

1989—Subsec. (b)(2)(B). Pub. L. 101–239, § 7821(a)(1), substituted “such obligations held by the taxpayer” for “obligations of the taxpayer described in paragraph (1)”.

Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 101–239, § 7815(g), substituted “Exception for personal use and farm property” for “Exception for farm property” in heading and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “An installment obligation shall not be treated as described in paragraph (1) if it arises from the disposition of any property used or produced in the trade or business of farming (within the meaning of section 2032A(e)(4) or (5).”

Pub. L. 101–239, § 7812(c)(2), substituted “(5)).” for “(5).”

Subsec. (c)(5), (6). Pub. L. 101–239, § 7821(a)(4)(B), added par. (5) and redesignated former par. (5) as (6).

Subsec. (d)(1)(B). Pub. L. 101–239, § 7821(a)(3), substituted “the time the proceeds” for “the proceeds”.

Subsec. (d)(2)(B). Pub. L. 101–239, § 7821(a)(2), substituted “the later of the times referred to in subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1)” for “such secured indebtedness was incurred”.

1988—Pub. L. 100–647, § 5076(b)(1), struck out “of real property” after “rules for nondealers” in section catchline.

Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 100–647, § 5076(a), amended par. (1) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (1) read as follows: “This section shall apply to any obligation which arises from the disposition of real property under the installment method which is property used in the taxpayer’s trade or business or property held for the production of rental income, but only if the sales price of such property exceeds $150,000.”

Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 100–647, § 2004(d)(7), inserted “and subsection (c)(4)” after “of this paragraph” in last sentence.

Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 100–647, § 2004(d)(8), substituted “farm property” for “personal use and farm property” in heading and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “An installment obligation shall not be treated as described in paragraph (1) if it arises from the disposition—

“(A) by an individual of personal use property (within the meaning of section 1275(b)(3)), or

“(B) of any property used or produced in the trade or business of farming (within the meaning of section 2032A(e)(4) or (5)).”

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 100–647, § 1008(g)(2), substituted “453(k)” for “453(j)” in subsec. (c) as in effect on date before the date of enactment of Pub. L. 100–203 (Dec. 22, 1987).

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 100–647, § 2004(d)(2), added subsec. (e).

1987—Pub. L. 100–203 substituted “Special rules for nondealers of real property” for “Installment method for dealers in personal property” in section catchline and amended text generally, revising and restating as subsecs. (a) to (d) provisions of former subsecs. (a) to (c).

1986—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 99–514, § 812(b)(1), struck out last sentence which read as follows: “This paragraph shall not apply with respect to sales of personal property under a revolving credit type plan.”

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 99–514, § 812(b)(2), added subsec. (c).

Effective Date of 2017 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 115–97 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 2017, see section 13001(c)(1) of Pub. L. 115–97, set out as a note under section 11 of this title.

Effective Date of 1999 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 106–170 applicable to sales or other dispositions occurring on or after Dec. 17, 1999, see section 536(c) of Pub. L. 106–170, set out as a note under section 453 of this title.

Effective Date of 1993 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 103–66 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1992, see section 13201(c) of Pub. L. 103–66, set out as a note under section 1 of this title.

Effective Date of 1989 Amendment

Amendment by sections 7812(c)(2) and 7815(g) of Pub. L. 101–239 effective, except as otherwise provided, as if included in the provision of the Technical and Miscellaneous Revenue Act of 1988, Pub. L. 100–647, to which such amendment relates, see section 7817 of Pub. L. 101–239, set out as a note under section 1 of this title.

Amendment by section 7821(a)(1)–(3), (4)(B) of Pub. L. 101–239 effective as if included in the provision of the Revenue Act of 1987, Pub. L. 100–203, title X, to which such amendment relates, see section 7823 of Pub. L. 101–239, set out as a note under section 26 of this title.

Effective Date of 1988 Amendment

Amendment by section 1008(g)(2) of 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.

Amendment by section 2004(d)(2), (7), (8) of 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.

Pub. L. 100–647, title V, § 5076(c), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3683, provided that:

“(1) In general.— Except as provided in paragraph (2), the amendments made by this section [amending this section] shall apply to sales after December 31, 1988.

“(2) Binding contract, etc.— The amendments made by this section shall not apply to any sale on or before December 31, 1990, if—
“(A) such sale is pursuant to a written binding contract in effect on October 21, 1988, and at all times thereafter before such sale,
“(B) such sale is pursuant to a letter of intent in effect on October 21, 1988, or
“(C) there is a board of directors or shareholder approval for such sale on or before October 21, 1988.”

Effective Date of 1987 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 100–203 applicable to dispositions in taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1987, with special rules for non-dealers and coordination with Tax Reform Act of 1986, see section 10202(e)(1), (3), (5) of Pub. L. 100–203, set out as a note under section 453 of this title.

Effective Date

For effective date, see section 6(a)(4) of Pub. L. 96–471, set out as a note under section 453 of this title.

Certain Repledges Permitted

Pub. L. 100–647, title VI, § 6031, Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3695, provided that:

“(a) General Rule.— Section 453A(d) of the 1986 Code (relating to pledges, etc., of installment obligations) shall not apply to any pledge after December 17, 1987, of an installment obligation to secure any indebtedness if such indebtedness is incurred to refinance indebtedness which was outstanding on December 17, 1987, and which was secured on such date and all times thereafter before such refinancing by a pledge of such installment obligation.

“(b) Limitation.— Subsection (a) shall not apply to the extent that the principal amount of the indebtedness resulting from the refinancing exceeds the principal amount of the refinanced indebtedness immediately before the refinancing.

“(c) Certain Refinancings Permitted.— For purposes of subsection (a), if—
“(1) a refinancing is attributable to the calling of indebtedness by the creditor, and
“(2) such refinancing is not with the creditor under the refinanced indebtedness or a person related to such creditor,
such refinancing shall, to the extent the refinanced indebtedness qualifies under subsections (a) and (b), be treated as a continuation of such refinanced indebtedness.”

Amendment by Pub. L. 99–514 Treated as Change in Method of Accounting

For provisions requiring change in accounting method in the case of any taxpayer who made sales under revolving credit plan and was on installment method under this section for such taxpayer’s last taxable year beginning before Jan. 1, 1987, see section 812(c)(2) of Pub. L. 99–514, set out as an Effective Date of 1986 Amendment note under section 453 of this title.