Internal Revenue Code · 26 U.S.C.
§ 4943. Taxes on excess business holdings
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. § 4943
At a glance
Read from the text, the source credit and the official notes. Not part of the law.
- Status
- In force
- Added
- December 30, 1969 by Pub. L. 91–172
- Last amended
- February 9, 2018 by Pub. L. 115–123
- Amendments
- 6 dated changes in the source credit
- Length
- 7 subsections · 3,809 words · about 17 min to read
- Defines
- 10 terms
- Cross-references
- cites 10; cited by 10 Code sections and 16 other regulations
- Regulations
- 11 issued under this section
There is hereby imposed on the excess business holdings of any private foundation in a business enterprise during any taxable year which ends during the taxable period a tax equal to 10 percent of the value of such holdings.
In any case in which an initial tax is imposed under subsection (a) with respect to the holdings of a private foundation in any business enterprise, if, at the close of the taxable period with respect to such holdings, the foundation still has excess business holdings in such enterprise, there is hereby imposed a tax equal to 200 percent of such excess business holdings.
The term “excess business holdings” means, with respect to the holdings of any private foundation in any business enterprise, the amount of stock or other interest in the enterprise which the foundation would have to dispose of to a person other than a disqualified person in order for the remaining holdings of the foundation in such enterprise to be permitted holdings.
A private foundation shall not be treated as having excess business holdings in any corporation in which it (together with all other private foundations which are described in section 4946(a)(1)(H)) owns not more than 2 percent of the voting stock and not more than 2 percent in value of all outstanding shares of all classes of stock.
Paragraph (4) (other than subparagraph (B)(i)) shall apply to any interest in a business enterprise which a private foundation acquires under the terms of a trust which was irrevocable on May 26, 1969, or under the terms of a will executed on or before such date, which are in effect on such date and at all times thereafter, as if such interest were held on May 26, 1969, except that the 15-year and 10-year periods prescribed in clauses (ii) and (iii) of paragraph (4)(B) shall commence with respect to such interest on the date of distribution under the trust or will in lieu of May 26, 1969.
In computing the holdings of a private foundation, or a disqualified person (as defined in section 4946) with respect thereto, in any business enterprise, any stock or other interest owned, directly or indirectly, by or for a corporation, partnership, estate, or trust shall be considered as being owned proportionately by or for its shareholders, partners, or beneficiaries. The preceding sentence shall not apply with respect to an income or remainder interest of a private foundation in a trust described in section 4947(a)(2), but only if, in the case of property transferred in trust after May 26, 1969, such foundation holds only an income interest or only a remainder interest in such trust.
The term “disqualified person” (as defined in section 4946(a)) does not include a plan described in section 4975(e)(7) with respect to the holdings of a private foundation described in paragraphs (4) and (5) of subsection (c).
For purposes of this section, a donor advised fund (as defined in section 4966(d)(2)) shall be treated as a private foundation.
For purposes of this section, an organization which is described in paragraph (3) shall be treated as a private foundation.
The Secretary may exempt the excess business holdings of any organization from the application of this subsection if the Secretary determines that such holdings are consistent with the purpose or function constituting the basis for its exemption under section 501.
The term “type III supporting organization” means an organization which meets the requirements of subparagraphs (A) and (C) of section 509(a)(3) and which is operated in connection with one or more organizations described in paragraph (1) or (2) of section 509(a).
The term “functionally integrated type III supporting organization” means a type III supporting organization which is not required under regulations established by the Secretary to make payments to supported organizations (as defined under section 509(f)(3)) due to the activities of the organization related to performing the functions of, or carrying out the purposes of, such supported organizations.
For purposes of this subsection, the term “excess business holdings” shall not include any holdings of a type III supporting organization in any business enterprise if, as of November 18, 2005, the holdings were held (and at all times thereafter, are held) for the benefit of the community pursuant to the direction of a State attorney general or a State official with jurisdiction over such organization.
The requirements of this paragraph are met if the business enterprise, not later than 120 days after the close of the taxable year, distributes an amount equal to its net operating income for such taxable year to the private foundation.
(Added Pub. L. 91–172, title I, § 101(b), Dec. 30, 1969, 83 Stat. 507; amended Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, § 1906(b)(13)(A), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1834; Pub. L. 96–596, § 2(a)(1)(D), (2)(C), (3)(C), (4)(B), Dec. 24, 1980, 94 Stat. 3469–3472; Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title III, §§ 307(a), 308(a), 309(a), 310(a), 314(c)(1), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 784, 785, 787; Pub. L. 109–280, title XII, §§ 1212(c), 1233(a), 1243(a), Aug. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 1074, 1099, 1105; Pub. L. 113–295, div. A, title II, § 220(r), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 4036; Pub. L. 115–123, div. D, title II, § 41110(a), Feb. 9, 2018, 132 Stat. 159.)
Terms defined here
Where the text says “the term … means”. Select a term to jump to its definition.
- business enterprise § 4943(d)(3)
- disqualified person § 4943(d)(4)
- disqualified person § 4943(e)(2)
- disqualified person § 4943(f)(4)(A)
- excess business holdings § 4943(c)(1)
- excess business holdings § 4943(f)(6)
- functionally integrated type III supporting organization § 4943(f)(5)(B)
- second phase § 4943(c)(4)(D)(iii)
- taxable period § 4943(d)(2)
- type III supporting organization § 4943(f)(5)(A)
Regulations under this section
Treasury regulations (26 CFR) issued under § 4943
- § 53.4943-1 General rule; purpose.
- § 53.4943-2 Imposition of tax on excess business holdings of private foundations.
- § 53.4943-3 Determination of excess business holdings.
- § 53.4943-4 Present holdings.
- § 53.4943-5 Present holdings acquired by trust or a will.
- § 53.4943-6 Five-year period to dispose of gifts, bequests, etc.
- § 53.4943-7 Special rules for readjustments involving grandfathered holdings.
- § 53.4943-8 Business holdings; constructive ownership.
- § 53.4943-9 Business holdings; certain periods.
- § 53.4943-10 Business enterprise; definition.
- § 53.4943-11 Effective/applicability date.
Cross-references
Computed from the citations in the text of Title 26 and 26 CFR.
This section cites 10 other sections
- § 4946(a)(1)(H) Definitions and special rules
- § 4947(a)(2) Application of taxes to certain nonexempt trusts
- § 6212 Notice of deficiency
- § 4942(j)(4) Taxes on failure to distribute income
- § 512(b)(1) Unrelated business taxable income
- § 4975(e)(7) Tax on prohibited transactions
- § 4966(d)(2) Taxes on taxable distributions
- § 4958(f)(3) Taxes on excess benefit transactions
- § 501 Exemption from tax on corporations, certain trusts, etc.
- § 509(a)(3) Private foundation defined
Cited by 10 Code sections
- § 170(f)(18)(A)(ii) Charitable, etc., contributions and gifts
- § 508(e)(1)(B) Special rules with respect to section 501(c)(3) organizations
- § 537(b)(2)(A) Reasonable needs of the business
- § 2055(e)(5)(A)(ii) Transfers for public, charitable, and religious uses
- § 2522(c)(5)(A)(ii) Charitable and similar gifts
- § 4942(g)(4)(A)(i) Taxes on failure to distribute income
- § 4946(a)(1)(H) Definitions and special rules
- § 4947(a)(2) Application of taxes to certain nonexempt trusts
- § 4963(d)(2)(B) Definitions
- § 4966(d)(4)(A)(i) Taxes on taxable distributions
Cited in 16 regulations not issued under it
- § 1.507-2 Special rules; transfer to, or operation as, public charity.
- § 1.507-3 Special rules; transferee foundations.
- § 1.507-9 Abatement of taxes.
- § 1.508-2 Disallowance of certain charitable, etc., deductions.
- § 1.508-3 Governing instruments.
- § 1.509(a)-4 Supporting organizations.
- § 1.537-1 Reasonable needs of the business.
- § 53.4940-1 Excise tax on net investment income.
- § 53.4941(d)-4 Transitional rules.
- § 53.4942(a)-2 Computation of undistributed income.
- § 53.4944-1 Initial taxes.
- § 53.4945-2 Propaganda influencing legislation.
- § 53.4946-1 Definitions and special rules.
- § 53.4947-2 Special rules.
- § 53.4963-1 Definitions.
- § 143.6 Election to shorten the period during which certain excess business holdings of private foundations are treated as permitted holdings.
Amendment history
From the source credit and the official notes, newest first.
- Amended by Pub. L. 115–123Parts changed in 2018: (g)
- Amended by Pub. L. 113–295Parts changed in 2014: (e)(3)(B)
- Amended by Pub. L. 109–280Parts changed in 2006: (a)(1) (e) (f)
- Amended by Pub. L. 98–369Parts changed in 1984: (c)(4)(A)(ii) (c)(4)(B)(i) (c)(6) (c)(7) (d)(4)
- Amended by Pub. L. 96–596Parts changed in 1980: (b) (d)(2) (d)(3)
- Amended by Pub. L. 94–455Parts changed in 1976: (c)
- Added by Pub. L. 91–172
Where it sits in the Code
- Subtitle D Miscellaneous Excise Taxes
- Chapter 42 PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS; AND CERTAIN OTHER TAX-EXEMPT ORGANIZATIONS
- Subchapter A Private Foundations
Nearby sections
- § 4940 Excise tax based on investment income
- § 4941 Taxes on self-dealing
- § 4942 Taxes on failure to distribute income
- § 4943 Taxes on excess business holdings
- § 4944 Taxes on investments which jeopardize charitable purpose
- § 4945 Taxes on taxable expenditures
- § 4946 Definitions and special rules
- § 4947 Application of taxes to certain nonexempt trusts
Official notes
Show the Law Revision Counsel's notes (amendments, effective dates)
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The date of enactment of this subsection, referred to in subsecs. (e)(3)(A) and (f)(7)(A), probably means the date of enactment of subsecs. (e) and (f) which were enacted by Pub. L. 109–280, which was approved Aug. 17, 2006.
Codification
Sections 1212(c), 1233(a), and 1243(a) of Pub. L. 109–280, which directed the amendment of section 4943 without specifying the act to be amended, were executed to this section, which is section 4943 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, to reflect the probable intent of Congress. See 2006 Amendment notes below.
Amendments
2018—Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 115–123 added subsec. (g).
2014—Subsecs. (e)(3)(B), (f)(7)(B). Pub. L. 113–295 substituted “January 1, 1971” for “January 1, 1970”.
2006—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 109–280, § 1212(c), substituted “10 percent” for “5 percent”. See Codification note above.
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 109–280, § 1233(a), added subsec. (e). See Codification note above.
Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 109–280, § 1243(a), added subsec. (f). See Codification note above.
1984—Subsec. (c)(4)(A)(ii). Pub. L. 98–369, § 308(a), substituted “For purposes of the preceding sentence, any decrease in percentage holdings attributable to issuances of stock (or to issuances of stock coupled with redemptions of stock) shall be disregarded so long as (I) the net percentage decrease disregarded under this sentence does not exceed 2 percent, and (II) the number of shares held by the foundation is not affected by any such issuance or redemption” for “For purposes of this clause, any decrease in percentage holdings attributable to issuances of stock (or to issuances of stock coupled with redemptions of stock) shall be determined only as of the close of each taxable year of the private foundation unless the aggregate of the percentage decreases attributable to the issuances of stock (or such issuances and redemptions) during such taxable year equals or exceeds 1 percent”.
Subsec. (c)(4)(B)(i). Pub. L. 98–369, § 309(a), substituted “the private foundation and all disqualified persons have” for “the private foundation has”.
Subsec. (c)(6). Pub. L. 98–369, § 310(a), inserted following subpar. (B) “In any case where an acquisition by a disqualified person would result in a substitution under clause (i) or (ii) of subparagraph (D) of paragraph (4), the preceding sentence shall be applied with respect to such acquisition as if it did not contain the phrase ‘or by a disqualified person’ in the material preceding subparagraph (A).”
Subsec. (c)(7). Pub. L. 98–369, § 307(a), added par. (7).
Subsec. (d)(4). Pub. L. 98–369, § 314(c)(1), added par. (4).
1980—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 96–596, § 2(a)(1)(D), substituted “taxable period” for “correction period”.
Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 96–596, § 2(a)(2)(C), substituted provision ending the taxable period on the earlier of the date of mailing of a notice of deficiency with respect to the tax imposed by subsec. (a) of this section under section 6212 of this title in respect to such holdings or the date on which the tax imposed by subsec. (a) of this section in respect to such holdings is assessed for provision ending the taxable period on the date of mailing the notice of deficiency with respect to a tax imposed by subsec. (a) of this section under section 6212 of this title in respect to such holdings.
Subsec. (d)(3), (4). Pub. L. 96–596, § 2(a)(3)(C), (4)(B), redesignated par. (4) as (3), and in subpar. (A) of par. (3) as so redesignated, substituted “section 4942(j)(4)” for “section 4942(j)(5)”, and struck out par. (3), which defined correction period, with respect to excess business holdings of a private foundation in a business enterprise, as the period ending 90 days after the date of mailing of a notice of deficiency with respect to the tax imposed by subsec. (b) of this section under section 6212 of this title, extended by any period in which a deficiency cannot be assessed under section 6213(a) of this title and any other period which the Secretary determines is reasonable and necessary to permit orderly disposition of such excess business holdings.
1976—Subsecs. (c), (d). Pub. L. 94–455 struck out “or his delegate” after “Secretary” wherever appearing.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2018 Amendment
Pub. L. 115–123, div. D, title II, § 41110(b), Feb. 9, 2018, 132 Stat. 160, provided that: “The amendment made by this section [amending this section] shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017.”
Effective Date of 2006 Amendment
Amendment by section 1212(c) of Pub. L. 109–280 applicable to taxable years beginning after Aug. 17, 2006, see section 1212(f) of Pub. L. 109–280, set out as a note under section 4941 of this title.
Pub. L. 109–280, title XII, § 1233(b), Aug. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 1100, provided that: “The amendment made by this section [amending this section] shall apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act [Aug. 17, 2006].”
Pub. L. 109–280, title XII, § 1243(b), Aug. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 1107, provided that: “The amendment made by this section [amending this section] shall apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act [Aug. 17, 2006].”
Effective Date of 1984 Amendment
Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title III, § 307(b), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 785, as amended by Pub. L. 99–514, § 2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2095, provided that:
“(1) In general.— The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply to business holdings with respect to which the 5-year period described in section 4943(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [formerly I.R.C. 1954] ends on or after November 1, 1983.“(2) Transitional rule.— Any plan submitted to the Secretary of the Treasury or his delegate on or before the 60th day after the date of the enactment of this Act [July 18, 1984] shall be treated as submitted before the close of the initial 5-year period referred to in section 4943(c)(7)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as added by subsection (a)).”
Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title III, § 308(b), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 785, provided that: “The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply to increases and decreases occurring after the date of the enactment of this Act [July 18, 1984].”
Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title III, § 309(b), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 785, provided that: “The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall take effect as if included in the amendment made by section 101(b) of the Tax Reform Act of 1969 [section 101(b) of Pub. L. 91–172 which enacted this section].”
Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title III, § 310(b), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 786, provided that: “The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply to acquisitions after the date of the enactment of this Act [July 18, 1984].”
Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title III, § 314(c)(2), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 788, provided that: “The amendment made by paragraph (1) [amending this section] shall apply with respect to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act [July 18, 1984].”
Effective Date of 1980 Amendment
For effective date of amendment by Pub. L. 96–596 with respect to any first tier tax and to any second tier tax, see section 2(d) of Pub. L. 96–596, set out as an Effective Date note under section 4961 of this title.
Savings Provision
Applicability of section to private foundations, see section 101(l)(4) of Pub. L. 91–172, set out as a note under section 4940 of this title.