Internal Revenue Code · 26 U.S.C.
§ 453B. Gain or loss on disposition of installment obligations
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. § 453B
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
- March 23, 2018 by Pub. L. 115–141
- Amendments
- 7 dated changes in the source credit
- Length
- 8 subsections · 991 words · about 4 min to read
- Defines
- 1 term
- Cross-references
- cites 6; cited by 3 Code sections and 5 other regulations
The basis of an installment obligation shall be the excess of the face value of the obligation over an amount equal to the income which would be returnable were the obligation satisfied in full.
Except as provided in section 691 (relating to recipients of income in respect of decedents), this section shall not apply to the transmission of installment obligations at death.
Subsection (a) shall not apply to any distribution to which section 337(a) applies.
In the case of a disposition of an installment obligation by any person other than a life insurance company (as defined in section 816(a)) to such an insurance company or to a partnership of which such an insurance company is a partner, no provision of this subtitle providing for the nonrecognition of gain shall apply with respect to any gain resulting under subsection (a). If a corporation which is a life insurance company for the taxable year was (for the preceding taxable year) a corporation which was not a life insurance company, such corporation shall, for purposes of this subsection and subsection (a), be treated as having transferred to a life insurance company, on the last day of the preceding taxable year, all installment obligations which it held on such last day. A partnership of which a life insurance company becomes a partner shall, for purposes of this subsection and subsection (a), be treated as having transferred to a life insurance company, on the last day of the preceding taxable year of such partnership, all installment obligations which it holds at the time such insurance company becomes a partner.
For purposes of this subsection, the term “noninsurance business” means any activity which is not an insurance business.
(Added Pub. L. 96–471, § 2(a), Oct. 19, 1980, 94 Stat. 2252; amended Pub. L. 96–471, § 2(c)(3), Oct. 19, 1980, 94 Stat. 2254; Pub. L. 97–448, title III, § 302, Jan. 12, 1983, 96 Stat. 2398; Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title I, § 43(c)(2), title II, § 211(b)(6), title IV, §§ 421(b)(3), 492(b)(3), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 558, 754, 794, 854; Pub. L. 99–514, title VI, § 631(e)(9), title X, § 1011(b)(1), title XVIII, § 1842(c), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2274, 2389, 2853; Pub. L. 100–647, title I, § 1006(e)(22), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3403; Pub. L. 101–508, title XI, § 11702(a)(2), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–514; Pub. L. 115–97, title I, § 13512(b)(1), Dec. 22, 2017, 131 Stat. 2142; Pub. L. 115–141, div. U, title IV, § 401(a)(111), Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1189.)
Terms defined here
Where the text says “the term … means”. Select a term to jump to its definition.
Cross-references
Computed from the citations in the text of Title 26 and 26 CFR.
This section cites 6 other sections
- § 691 Recipients of income in respect of decedents
- § 337(a) Nonrecognition for property distributed to parent in complete liquidation of subsidiary
- § 816(a) Life insurance company defined
- § 453 Installment method
- § 1041 Transfers of property between spouses or incident to divorce
- § 1366(b) Pass-thru of items to shareholders
Cited by 3 Code sections
- § 465(c)(7)(D)(v)(II) Deductions limited to amount at risk
- § 691(a)(4)(A) Recipients of income in respect of decedents
- § 1278(a)(1)(B)(iii) Definitions and special rules
Cited in 5 regulations not issued under it
Amendment history
From the source credit and the official notes, newest first.
- Amended by Pub. L. 115–141
- Amended by Pub. L. 115–97Parts changed in 2017: (e)(2)(B) (e)(3)
- Amended by Pub. L. 101–508Parts changed in 1990: (d)
- Amended by Pub. L. 100–647Parts changed in 1988: (h)
- Amended by Pub. L. 99–514Parts changed in 1986: (d) (e)(2)(B) (g)
- Amended by Pub. L. 98–369Parts changed in 1984: (d)(2) (e)(1) (e)(2) (g)
- Amended by Pub. L. 97–448Parts changed in 1983: (d)(2)
- Added by Pub. L. 96–471Parts changed in 1980: (d)
Where it sits in the Code
- Subtitle A Income Taxes
- Chapter 1 NORMAL TAXES AND SURTAXES
- Subchapter E Accounting Periods and Methods of Accounting
- Part II METHODS OF ACCOUNTING
- Subpart B Taxable Year for Which Items of Gross Income Included
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
- § 456 Prepaid dues income of certain membership organizations
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
2018—Pub. L. 115–141 substituted “loss on disposition” for “loss disposition” in section catchline.
2017—Subsec. (e)(2)(B). Pub. L. 115–97, § 13512(b)(1)(A), struck out “(as defined in section 806(b)(3))” before period at end.
Subsec. (e)(3). Pub. L. 115–97, § 13512(b)(1)(B), added par. (3).
1990—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 101–508 substituted heading for one which read: “Effect of distribution in liquidations to which section 332 applies” and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “If—
“(1) an installment obligation is distributed in a liquidation to which section 332 (relating to complete liquidations of subsidiaries) applies, and
“(2) the basis of such obligation in the hands of the distributee is determined under section 334(b)(1),
then no gain or loss with respect to the distribution of such obligation shall be recognized by the distributing corporation.”
1988—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 100–647 added subsec. (h).
1986—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 99–514, § 631(e)(9), amended subsec. (d) generally, substituting “liquidations to which section 332 applies” for “certain liquidations” in heading, striking out par. (1) designation, redesignating subpars. (A) and (B) as pars. (1) and (2), and striking out former par. (2) relating to liquidations to which section 337 applies.
Subsec. (e)(2)(B). Pub. L. 99–514, § 1011(b)(1), substituted “section 806(b)(3)” for “section 806(c)(3)”.
Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 99–514, § 1842(c), inserted “(other than a transfer in trust)”.
1984—Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 98–369, § 492(b)(3), struck out “1251(c),” after “1250(a),” in provision following subpar. (B).
Pub. L. 98–369, § 43(c)(2), substituted “1254(a), or 1276(a)” for “or 1254(a)”.
Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 98–369, § 211(b)(6)(A), substituted “section 816(a)” for “section 801(a)”.
Subsec. (e)(2). Pub. L. 98–369, § 211(b)(6)(B), substituted “as not related to insurance business” for “as investment income” in heading, and in text substituted “as if such income were an item attributable to a noninsurance business (as defined in section 806(c)(3))” for “if such income would not otherwise be returnable as an item referred to in section 804(b) or as long-term capital gain, as if the income on such obligations were income specified in section 804(b)”.
Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 98–369, § 421(b)(3), added subsec. (g).
1983—Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 97–448 substituted “under subsection (a)” for “under paragraph (1)” in second sentence.
1980—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 96–471, § 2(c)(3), inserted last sentence providing that in the case of any installment obligation which would have met the requirements of subpars. (A) and (B) of par. (2) but for sections 337(f), gain shall be recognized to such corporation by reason of such distribution only to the extent gain would have been recognized under sections 337(f) if such corporation had sold or exchanged such installment obligation on the date of such distribution.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2017 Amendment
Pub. L. 115–97, title I, § 13512(c), Dec. 22, 2017, 131 Stat. 2143, provided that: “The amendments made by this section [amending this section and sections 465, 801, 804, 805, 842, and 953 of this title and repealing section 806 of this title] shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017.”
Effective Date of 1990 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 101–508 effective 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 11702(j) of Pub. L. 101–508, set out as a note under section 59 of this title.
Effective Date of 1988 Amendment
Amendment by 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.
Effective Date of 1986 Amendment
Amendment by section 631(e)(9) of Pub. L. 99–514 applicable to any distribution in complete liquidation, and any sale or exchange, made by a corporation after July 31, 1986, unless such corporation is completely liquidated before Jan. 1, 1987, any transaction described in section 338 of this title for which the acquisition date occurs after Dec. 31, 1986, and any distribution, not in complete liquidation, made after Dec. 31, 1986, with exceptions and special and transitional rules, see section 633 of Pub. L. 99–514, set out as an Effective Date note under section 336 of this title.
Pub. L. 99–514, title X, § 1011(c)(1), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2389, provided that: “The amendments made by this section [amending this section and sections 465, 801, 804 to 806, 813, and 815 of this title, enacting provisions set out as a note under section 801 of this title, and amending provisions set out as a note under section 806 of this title] shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1986.”
Amendment by section 1842(c) of Pub. L. 99–514 effective, except as otherwise provided, as if included in the provisions of the Tax Reform Act of 1984, Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, to which such amendment relates, see section 1881 of Pub. L. 99–514, set out as a note under section 48 of this title.
Effective Date of 1984 Amendment
Amendment by section 43(c)(2) of Pub. L. 98–369 applicable to taxable years ending after July 18, 1984, see section 44 of Pub. L. 98–369, set out as an Effective Date note under section 1271 of this title.
Amendment by section 211(b)(6) of Pub. L. 98–369 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1983, see section 215 of Pub. L. 98–369, set out as an Effective Date note under section 801 of this title.
Amendment by section 421(b)(3) of Pub. L. 98–369 applicable to transfers after July 18, 1984, in taxable years ending after such date, subject to election to have amendment apply to transfers after 1983 or to transfers pursuant to existing decrees, see section 421(d) of Pub. L. 98–369, set out as an Effective Date note under section 1041 of this title.
Amendment by section 492(b)(3) of Pub. L. 98–369 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1983, see section 492(d) of Pub. L. 98–369, set out as a note under section 170 of this title.
Effective Date of 1983 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 97–448 applicable to dispositions made after Oct. 19, 1980, in taxable years ending after such date, see section 311(a) of Pub. L. 97–448, set out as a note under section 453 of this title.
Effective Date of 1980 Amendment
For effective date of amendment by Pub. L. 96–471, see section 6(a)(6) of Pub. L. 96–471, set out as an Effective Date note under section 453 of this title.
Effective Date
For effective date, see section 6(a)(1), (5) of Pub. L. 96–471, set out as a note under section 453 of this title.
Repeal of Modification of Installment Method
Pub. L. 106–573, § 2, Dec. 28, 2000, 114 Stat. 3061, provided that:
“(a) In General.— Subsection (a) of section 536 of the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999 (relating to modification of installment method and repeal of installment method for accrual method taxpayers) [Pub. L. 106–170, amending this section] is repealed effective with respect to sales and other dispositions occurring on or after the date of the enactment of such Act [Dec. 17, 1999].“(b) Applicability.— The Internal Revenue Code of 1986 shall be applied and administered as if that subsection (and the amendments made by that subsection) had not been enacted.”
Plan Amendments Not Required Until January 1, 1989
For provisions directing that if any amendments made by subtitle A or subtitle C of title XI [§§ 1101–1147 and 1171–1177] or title XVIII [§§ 1800–1899A] of Pub. L. 99–514 require an amendment to any plan, such plan amendment shall not be required to be made before the first plan year beginning on or after Jan. 1, 1989, see section 1140 of Pub. L. 99–514, as amended, set out as a note under section 401 of this title.
Treatment of Elections Under Section 453B(e)(2)
Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title II, § 217(b), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 762, as amended by Pub. L. 99–514, § 2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2095, provided that: “If an election is made under section 453B(e)(2) before January 1, 1984, with respect to any installment obligation, any income from such obligation shall be treated as attributable to a noninsurance business (as defined in [former] section 806(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [formerly I.R.C. 1954]).”