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Internal Revenue Code · 26 U.S.C.

§ 4979A. Tax on certain prohibited allocations of qualified securities

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. § 4979A

At a glance

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

Status
In force
Added
October 22, 1986 by Pub. L. 99–514
Last amended
June 7, 2001 by Pub. L. 107–16
Amendments
4 dated changes in the source credit
Length
5 subsections · 652 words · about 3 min to read
Defines
1 term
Cross-references
cites 4; cited by 4 Code sections and 2 other regulations
(a) Imposition of tax If—
(1) there is a prohibited allocation of qualified securities by any employee stock ownership plan or eligible worker-owned cooperative,
(2) there is an allocation described in section 664(g)(5)(A),
(3) there is any allocation of employer securities which violates the provisions of section 409(p), or a nonallocation year described in subsection (e)(2)(C) with respect to an employee stock ownership plan, or
(4) any synthetic equity is owned by a disqualified person in any nonallocation year,
there is hereby imposed a tax on such allocation or ownership equal to 50 percent of the amount involved.
(b) Prohibited allocation For purposes of this section, the term “prohibited allocation” means—
(1) any allocation of qualified securities acquired in a sale to which section 1042 applies which violates the provisions of section 409(n), and
(2) any benefit which accrues to any person in violation of the provisions of section 409(n).
(c) Liability for tax The tax imposed by this section shall be paid—
(1) in the case of an allocation referred to in paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (a), by—
(A) the employer sponsoring such plan, or
(B) the eligible worker-owned cooperative,
which made the written statement described in section 664(g)(1)(E) or in section 1042(b)(3)(B) (as the case may be), and
(2) in the case of an allocation or ownership referred to in paragraph (3) or (4) of subsection (a), by the S corporation the stock in which was so allocated or owned.
(d) Special statute of limitations for tax attributable to certain allocations The statutory period for the assessment of any tax imposed by this section on an allocation described in subsection (a)(2) of qualified employer securities shall not expire before the date which is 3 years from the later of—
(1) the 1st allocation of such securities in connection with a qualified gratuitous transfer (as defined in section 664(g)(1)), or
(2) the date on which the Secretary is notified of the allocation described in subsection (a)(2).
(e) Definitions and special rules For purposes of this section—
(1) Definitions

Except as provided in paragraph (2), terms used in this section have the same respective meanings as when used in sections 409 and 4978.

(2) Special rules relating to tax imposed by reason of paragraph (3) or (4) of subsection (a)
(A) Prohibited allocations

The amount involved with respect to any tax imposed by reason of subsection (a)(3) is the amount allocated to the account of any person in violation of section 409(p)(1).

(B) Synthetic equity

The amount involved with respect to any tax imposed by reason of subsection (a)(4) is the value of the shares on which the synthetic equity is based.

(C) Special rule during first nonallocation year

For purposes of subparagraph (A), the amount involved for the first nonallocation year of any employee stock ownership plan shall be determined by taking into account the total value of all the deemed-owned shares of all disqualified persons with respect to such plan.

(D) Statute of limitations The statutory period for the assessment of any tax imposed by this section by reason of paragraph (3) or (4) of subsection (a) shall not expire before the date which is 3 years from the later of—
(i) the allocation or ownership referred to in such paragraph giving rise to such tax, or
(ii) the date on which the Secretary is notified of such allocation or ownership.

(Added and amended Pub. L. 99–514, title XI, § 1172(b)(2), title XVIII, § 1854(a)(9)(A), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2514, 2877; Pub. L. 101–239, title VII, § 7304(a)(2)(D), Dec. 19, 1989, 103 Stat. 2353; Pub. L. 104–188, title I, § 1704(t)(22), Aug. 20, 1996, 110 Stat. 1888; Pub. L. 105–34, title XV, § 1530(c)(15)–(17), Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 1079, 1080; Pub. L. 107–16, title VI, § 656(c), June 7, 2001, 115 Stat. 134.)

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 4 other sections

Cited by 4 Code sections

Cited in 2 regulations not issued under it

Amendment history

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

  1. Amended by Pub. L. 107–16Parts changed in 2001: (a) (c) (e)
  2. Amended by Pub. L. 105–34Parts changed in 1997: (a) (c) (d)
  3. Amended by Pub. L. 104–188Parts changed in 1996: (c)
  4. Amended by Pub. L. 101–239Parts changed in 1989: (b)(1) (c)
  5. Added by Pub. L. 99–514Parts changed in 1986: (b)(1) (c)

Where it sits in the Code

  1. Subtitle D Miscellaneous Excise Taxes
  2. Chapter 43 QUALIFIED PENSION, ETC., PLANS

Nearby sections

Official notes

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

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2001—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 107–16, § 656(c)(1), added pars. (3) and (4) and, in concluding provisions, substituted “there is hereby imposed a tax on such allocation or ownership equal to 50 percent of the amount involved.” for “there is hereby imposed a tax on such allocation equal to 50 percent of the amount involved.”

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 107–16, § 656(c)(2), amended heading and text of subsec. (c) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The tax imposed by this section shall be paid by—

“(1) the employer sponsoring such plan, or

“(2) the eligible worker-owned cooperative,

which made the written statement described in section 664(g)(1)(E) or in section 1042(b)(3)(B) (as the case may be).”

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 107–16, § 656(c)(3), amended heading and text of subsec. (e) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “Terms used in this section have the same respective meaning as when used in section 4978.”

1997—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 105–34, § 1530(c)(15), amended heading and text of subsec. (a) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “If there is a prohibited allocation of qualified securities by any employee stock ownership plan or eligible worker-owned cooperative, there is hereby imposed a tax on such allocation equal to 50 percent of the amount involved.”

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 105–34, § 1530(c)(16), amended heading and text of subsec. (c) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The tax imposed by this section shall be paid by—

“(1) the employer sponsoring such plan, or

“(2) the eligible worker-owned cooperative,

which made the written statement described in section 1042(b)(3)(B).”

Subsecs. (d), (e). Pub. L. 105–34, § 1530(c)(17), added subsec. (d) and redesignated former subsec. (d) as (e).

1996—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 104–188 amended directory language of Pub. L. 101–239, § 7304(a)(2)(D)(ii). See 1989 Amendment note below.

1989—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 101–239, § 7304(a)(2)(D)(i), struck out “or section 2057” after “section 1042”.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 101–239, § 7304(a)(2)(D)(ii), as amended by Pub. L. 104–188, struck out “or section 2057(d)” after “section 1042(b)(3)(B)” in concluding provisions.

1986—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 99–514, § 1172(b)(2)(A), inserted reference to section 2057.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 99–514, § 1172(b)(2)(B), inserted reference to section 2057(d).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2001 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 107–16 applicable to plan years beginning after Dec. 31, 2004, except that in the case of any employee stock ownership plan established after Mar. 14, 2001, or established on or before such date if employer securities held by the plan consist of stock in a corporation with respect to which an election under section 1362(a) of this title is not in effect on such date, amendment applicable to plan years ending after Mar. 14, 2001, see section 656(d) of Pub. L. 107–16, set out as a note under section 409 of this title.

Effective Date of 1997 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 105–34 applicable to transfers made by trusts to, or for the use of, an employee stock ownership plan after Aug. 5, 1997, see section 1530(d) of Pub. L. 105–34, set out as a note under section 401 of this title.

Effective Date of 1989 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 101–239 applicable to estates of decedents dying after Dec. 19, 1989, see section 7304(a)(3) of Pub. L. 101–239, set out as a note under section 409 of this title.

Effective Date of 1986 Amendment

Amendment by section 1172(b)(2) of Pub. L. 99–514 applicable to sales after Oct. 22, 1986, with respect to which election is made by executor of an estate who is required to file the return of the tax imposed by this title on a date (including extensions) after Oct. 22, 1986, see section 1172(c) of Pub. L. 99–514, set out as a note under section 409 of this title.

Effective Date

Pub. L. 99–514, title XVIII, § 1854(a)(9)(D), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2878, provided that: “The amendments made by this paragraph [enacting this section and amending section 1042 of this title] shall apply to sales of securities after the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 22, 1986].”

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.