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Internal Revenue Code · 26 U.S.C.

§ 473. Qualified liquidations of LIFO inventories

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. § 473

At a glance

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

Status
In force
Added
April 2, 1980 by Pub. L. 96–223
Length
7 subsections · 944 words · about 4 min to read
Defines
6 terms
Cross-references
cites 2; cited by 0 Code sections and 0 other regulations
(a) General rule If, for any liquidation year—
(1) there is a qualified liquidation of goods which the taxpayer inventories under the LIFO method, and
(2) the taxpayer elects to have the provisions of this section apply with respect to such liquidation,
then the gross income of the taxpayer for such taxable year shall be adjusted as provided in subsection (b).
(b) Adjustment for replacements If the liquidated goods are replaced (in whole or in part) during any replacement year and such replacement is reflected in the closing inventory for such year, then the gross income for the liquidation year shall be—
(1) decreased by an amount equal to the excess of—
(A) the aggregate replacement cost of the liquidated goods so replaced during such year, over
(B) the aggregate cost of such goods reflected in the opening inventory of the liquidation year, or
(2) increased by an amount equal to the excess of—
(A) the aggregate cost reflected in such opening inventory of the liquidated goods so replaced during such year, over
(B) such aggregate replacement cost.
(c) Qualified liquidation defined For purposes of this section—
(1) In general The term “qualified liquidation” means—
(A) a decrease in the closing inventory of the liquidation year from the opening inventory of such year, but only if
(B) the taxpayer establishes to the satisfaction of the Secretary that such decrease is directly and primarily attributable to a qualified inventory interruption.
(2) Qualified inventory interruption defined
(A) In general

The term “qualified inventory interruption” means a regulation, request, or interruption described in subparagraph (B) but only to the extent provided in the notice published pursuant to subparagraph (B).

(B) Determination by Secretary Whenever the Secretary, after consultation with the appropriate Federal officers, determines—
(i) that—
(I) any Department of Energy regulation or request with respect to energy supplies, or
(II) any embargo, international boycott, or other major foreign trade interruption,
has made difficult or impossible the replacement during the liquidation year of any class of goods for any class of taxpayers, and
(ii) that the application of this section to that class of goods and taxpayers is necessary to carry out the purposes of this section,
he shall publish a notice of such determinations in the Federal Register, together with the period to be affected by such notice.
(d) Other definitions and special rules For purposes of this section—
(1) Liquidation year

The term “liquidation year” means the taxable year in which occurs the qualified liquidation to which this section applies.

(2) Replacement year

The term “replacement year” means any taxable year in the replacement period; except that such term shall not include any taxable year after the taxable year in which replacement of the liquidated goods is completed.

(3) Replacement period The term “replacement period” means the shorter of—
(A) the period of the 3 taxable years following the liquidation year, or
(B) the period specified by the Secretary in a notice published in the Federal Register with respect to that qualified inventory interruption.
Any period specified by the Secretary under subparagraph (B) may be modified by the Secretary in a subsequent notice published in the Federal Register.
(4) LIFO method

The term “LIFO method” means the method of inventorying goods described in section 472.

(5) Election
(A) In general

An election under subsection (a) shall be made subject to such conditions, and in such manner and form and at such time, as the Secretary may prescribe by regulation.

(B) Irrevocable election

An election under this section shall be irrevocable and shall be binding for the liquidation year and for all determinations for prior and subsequent taxable years insofar as such determinations are affected by the adjustments under this section.

(e) Replacement; inventory basis For purposes of this chapter—
(1) Replacements

If the closing inventory of the taxpayer for any replacement year reflects an increase over the opening inventory of such goods for such year, the goods reflecting such increase shall be considered, in the order of their acquisition, as having been acquired in replacement of the goods most recently liquidated (whether or not in a qualified liquidation) and not previously replaced.

(2) Amount at which replacement goods taken into account

In the case of any qualified liquidation, any goods considered under paragraph (1) as having been acquired in replacement of the goods liquidated in such liquidation shall be taken into purchases and included in the closing inventory of the taxpayer for the replacement year at the inventory cost basis of the goods replaced.

(f) Special rules for application of adjustments
(1) Period of limitations If—
(A) an adjustment is required under this section for any taxable year by reason of the replacement of liquidated goods during any replacement year, and
(B) the assessment of a deficiency, or the allowance of a credit or refund of an overpayment of tax attributable to such adjustment, for any taxable year, is otherwise prevented by the operation of any law or rule of law (other than section 7122, relating to compromises),
then such deficiency may be assessed, or credit or refund allowed, within the period prescribed for assessing a deficiency or allowing a credit or refund for the replacement year if a notice for deficiency is mailed, or claim for refund is filed, within such period.
(2) Interest

Solely for purposes of determining interest on any overpayment or underpayment attributable to an adjustment made under this section, such overpayment or underpayment shall be treated as an overpayment or underpayment (as the case may be) for the replacement year.

(g) Coordination with section 472

The Secretary shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to coordinate the provisions of this section with the provisions of section 472.

(Added Pub. L. 96–223, title IV, § 403(a)(1), Apr. 2, 1980, 94 Stat. 302.)

Terms defined here

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Cross-references

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

This section cites 2 other sections

Amendment history

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

  1. Added by Pub. L. 96–223

Where it sits in the Code

  1. Subtitle A Income Taxes
  2. Chapter 1 NORMAL TAXES AND SURTAXES
  3. Subchapter E Accounting Periods and Methods of Accounting
  4. Part II METHODS OF ACCOUNTING
  5. Subpart D Inventories

Nearby sections

Official notes

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

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Pub. L. 96–223, title IV, § 403(a)(3), Apr. 2, 1980, 94 Stat. 304, as amended by Pub. L. 99–514, § 2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2095, provided that: “The amendments made by paragraphs (1) and (2) [enacting this section] shall apply to qualified liquidations (within the meaning of section 473(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [formerly I.R.C. 1954]) in taxable years ending after October 31, 1979.”