Internal Revenue Code · 26 U.S.C.

§ 544. Rules for determining stock ownership

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. § 544

At a glance

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

Status: In force
Enacted: April 22, 1960 by Pub. L. 86–435
Last amended: February 26, 1964 by Pub. L. 88–272
Amendments: 1 dated changes in the source credit
Length: 2 subsections · 703 words · about 3 min to read
Cross-references: cites 2; cited by 5 Code sections and 7 other regulations
Regulations: 7 issued under this section

¶(a) Constructive ownership For purposes of determining whether a corporation is a personal holding company, insofar as such determination is based on stock ownership under section 542(a)(2), section 543(a)(7), section 543(a)(6), or section 543(a)(4)—

¶(1) Stock not owned by individual

Stock owned, directly or indirectly, by or for a corporation, partnership, estate, or trust shall be considered as being owned proportionately by its shareholders, partners, or beneficiaries.

¶(2) Family and partnership ownership

An individual shall be considered as owning the stock owned, directly or indirectly, by or for his family or by or for his partner. For purposes of this paragraph, the family of an individual includes only his brothers and sisters (whether by the whole or half blood), spouse, ancestors, and lineal descendants.

¶(3) Options

If any person has an option to acquire stock, such stock shall be considered as owned by such person. For purposes of this paragraph, an option to acquire such an option, and each one of a series of such options, shall be considered as an option to acquire such stock.

¶(4) Application of family-partnership and option rules Paragraphs (2) and (3) shall be applied—

¶(A) for purposes of the stock ownership requirement provided in section 542(a)(2), if, but only if, the effect is to make the corporation a personal holding company;

¶(B) for purposes of section 543(a)(7) (relating to personal service contracts), of section 543(a)(6) (relating to use of property by shareholders), or of section 543(a)(4) (relating to copyright royalties), if, but only if, the effect is to make the amounts therein referred to includible under such paragraph as personal holding company income.

¶(5) Constructive ownership as actual ownership

Stock constructively owned by a person by reason of the application of paragraph (1) or (3), shall, for purposes of applying paragraph (1) or (2), be treated as actually owned by such person; but stock constructively owned by an individual by reason of the application of paragraph (2) shall not be treated as owned by him for purposes of again applying such paragraph in order to make another the constructive owner of such stock.

¶(6) Option rule in lieu of family and partnership rule

If stock may be considered as owned by an individual under either paragraph (2) or (3) it shall be considered as owned by him under paragraph (3).

¶(b) Convertible securities Outstanding securities convertible into stock (whether or not convertible during the taxable year) shall be considered as outstanding stock—

¶(1) for purposes of the stock ownership requirement provided in section 542(a)(2), but only if the effect of the inclusion of all such securities is to make the corporation a personal holding company;

¶(2) for purposes of section 543(a)(7) (relating to personal service contracts), but only if the effect of the inclusion of all such securities is to make the amounts therein referred to includible under such paragraph as personal holding company income;

¶(3) for purposes of section 543(a)(6) (relating to the use of property by shareholders), but only if the effect of the inclusion of all such securities is to make the amounts therein referred to includible under such paragraph as personal holding company income; and

¶(4) for purposes of section 543(a)(4) (relating to copyright royalties), but only if the effect of the inclusion of all such securities is to make the amounts therein referred to includible under such paragraph as personal holding company income.

The requirement in paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4) that all convertible securities must be included if any are to be included shall be subject to the exception that, where some of the outstanding securities are convertible only after a later date than in the case of others, the class having the earlier conversion date may be included although the others are not included, but no convertible securities shall be included unless all outstanding securities having a prior conversion date are also included.

(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 188; Pub. L. 86–435, § 1(c), (d), Apr. 22, 1960, 74 Stat. 78; Pub. L. 88–272, title II, § 225(k)(3), Feb. 26, 1964, 78 Stat. 93.)

Regulations under this section

Treasury regulations (26 CFR) issued under § 544

Cross-references

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

This section cites 2 other sections

Cited by 5 Code sections

Cited in 7 regulations not issued under it

Amendment history

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

February 26, 1964Amended by Pub. L. 88–272
April 22, 1960Enacted by Pub. L. 86–435Parts changed in 1960: (a) (a)(4)(B) (b)

Where it sits in the Code

Nearby sections

§ 541 Imposition of personal holding company tax
§ 542 Definition of personal holding company
§ 543 Personal holding company income
§ 544 Rules for determining stock ownership
§ 545 Undistributed personal holding company income
§ 546 Income not placed on annual basis
§ 547 Deduction for deficiency dividends

Official notes

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

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1964—Pub. L. 88–272 substituted “section 543(a)(7)” for “section 543(a)(5)”, and “section 543(a)(4)” for “section 543(a)(9),” wherever appearing.

1960—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 86–435, § 1(c)(1), inserted reference to section 543(a)(9) in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (a)(4)(B). Pub. L. 86–435, § 1(c)(2), included reference to section 543(a)(9).

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 86–435, § 1(d), added par. (4), and inserted reference to par. (4) in last sentence.

Effective Date of 1964 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 88–272 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1963, see section 225(l)(1) of Pub. L. 88–272 set out as a note under section 316 of this title.

Effective Date of 1960 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 86–435 applicable only with respect to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1959, see section 2 of Pub. L. 86–435, set out as a note under section 543 of this title.