Internal Revenue Code · 26 U.S.C.

§ 641. Imposition of tax

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. § 641

At a glance

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

Status: In force
Enacted: December 30, 1969 by Pub. L. 91–172
Last amended: December 22, 2017 by Pub. L. 115–97
Amendments: 7 dated changes in the source credit
Length: 3 subsections · 812 words · about 4 min to read
Defines: 1 term
Cross-references: cites 7; cited by 5 Code sections and 23 other regulations
Regulations: 8 issued under this section

¶(a) Application of tax The tax imposed by section 1(e) shall apply to the taxable income of estates or of any kind of property held in trust, including—

¶(1) income accumulated in trust for the benefit of unborn or unascertained persons or persons with contingent interests, and income accumulated or held for future distribution under the terms of the will or trust;

¶(2) income which is to be distributed currently by the fiduciary to the beneficiaries, and income collected by a guardian of an infant which is to be held or distributed as the court may direct;

¶(3) income received by estates of deceased persons during the period of administration or settlement of the estate; and

¶(4) income which, in the discretion of the fiduciary, may be either distributed to the beneficiaries or accumulated.

¶(b) Computation and payment

The taxable income of an estate or trust shall be computed in the same manner as in the case of an individual, except as otherwise provided in this part. The tax shall be computed on such taxable income and shall be paid by the fiduciary. For purposes of this subsection, a foreign trust or foreign estate shall be treated as a nonresident alien individual who is not present in the United States at any time.

¶(c) Special rules for taxation of electing small business trusts

¶(1) In general For purposes of this chapter—

¶(A) the portion of any electing small business trust which consists of stock in 1 or more S corporations shall be treated as a separate trust, and

¶(B) the amount of the tax imposed by this chapter on such separate trust shall be determined with the modifications of paragraph (2).

¶(2) Modifications For purposes of paragraph (1), the modifications of this paragraph are the following:

¶(A) Except as provided in section 1(h), the amount of the tax imposed by section 1(e) shall be determined by using the highest rate of tax set forth in section 1(e).

¶(B) The exemption amount under section 55(d) shall be zero.

¶(C) The only items of income, loss, deduction, or credit to be taken into account are the following:

¶(i) The items required to be taken into account under section 1366.

¶(ii) Any gain or loss from the disposition of stock in an S corporation.

¶(iii) To the extent provided in regulations, State or local income taxes or administrative expenses to the extent allocable to items described in clauses (i) and (ii).

¶(iv) Any interest expense paid or accrued on indebtedness incurred to acquire stock in an S corporation.

No deduction or credit shall be allowed for any amount not described in this paragraph, and no item described in this paragraph shall be apportioned to any beneficiary.

¶(D) No amount shall be allowed under paragraph (1) or (2) of section 1211(b).

¶(E)

¶(i) Section 642(c) shall not apply.

¶(ii) For purposes of section 170(b)(1)(G), adjusted gross income shall be computed in the same manner as in the case of an individual, except that the deductions for costs which are paid or incurred in connection with the administration of the trust and which would not have been incurred if the property were not held in such trust shall be treated as allowable in arriving at adjusted gross income.

¶(3) Treatment of remainder of trust and distributions For purposes of determining—

¶(A) the amount of the tax imposed by this chapter on the portion of any electing small business trust not treated as a separate trust under paragraph (1), and

¶(B) the distributable net income of the entire trust,

the items referred to in paragraph (2)(C) shall be excluded. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, this subsection shall not affect the taxation of any distribution from the trust.

¶(4) Treatment of unused deductions where termination of separate trust

If a portion of an electing small business trust ceases to be treated as a separate trust under paragraph (1), any carryover or excess deduction of the separate trust which is referred to in section 642(h) shall be taken into account by the entire trust.

¶(5) Electing small business trust

For purposes of this subsection, the term “electing small business trust” has the meaning given such term by section 1361(e)(1).

(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 215; Pub. L. 91–172, title VIII, § 803(d)(3), Dec. 30, 1969, 83 Stat. 684; Pub. L. 94–455, title VII, § 701(e)(2), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1579; Pub. L. 95–30, title I, § 101(d)(8), May 23, 1977, 91 Stat. 134; Pub. L. 104–188, title I, § 1302(d), Aug. 20, 1996, 110 Stat. 1778; Pub. L. 105–34, title XVI, § 1601(i)(3)(B), Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 1093; Pub. L. 105–206, title VI, § 6007(f)(2), July 22, 1998, 112 Stat. 810; Pub. L. 110–28, title VIII, § 8236(a), May 25, 2007, 121 Stat. 199; Pub. L. 115–97, title I, § 13542(a), Dec. 22, 2017, 131 Stat. 2154.)

Terms defined here

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electing small business trust § 641(c)(5)

Regulations under this section

Treasury regulations (26 CFR) issued under § 641

Cross-references

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

This section cites 7 other sections

Cited by 5 Code sections

Cited in 23 regulations not issued under it

Amendment history

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

December 22, 2017Amended by Pub. L. 115–97Parts changed in 2017: (c)(2)(E)
May 25, 2007Amended by Pub. L. 110–28Parts changed in 2007: (c)(2)(C)(iv)
July 22, 1998Amended by Pub. L. 105–206Parts changed in 1998: (c)
August 5, 1997Amended by Pub. L. 105–34Parts changed in 1997: (b)
August 20, 1996Amended by Pub. L. 104–188Parts changed in 1996: (d)
May 23, 1977Amended by Pub. L. 95–30Parts changed in 1977: (a)
October 4, 1976Amended by Pub. L. 94–455Parts changed in 1976: (c)
December 30, 1969Enacted by Pub. L. 91–172Parts changed in 1969: (a)

Where it sits in the Code

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Official notes

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

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2017—Subsec. (c)(2)(E). Pub. L. 115–97 added subpar. (E).

2007—Subsec. (c)(2)(C)(iv). Pub. L. 110–28 added cl. (iv).

1998—Subsecs. (c), (d). Pub. L. 105–206 redesignated subsec. (d) as (c) and struck out heading and text of former subsec. (c). Text read as follows:

“(1) General rule.—For purposes of this part, the taxable income of a trust does not include the amount of any includible gain as defined in section 644(b) reduced by any deductions properly allocable thereto.

“(2) Cross reference.—

“For the taxation of any includible gain, see section 644.”

1997—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 105–34 inserted at end “For purposes of this subsection, a foreign trust or foreign estate shall be treated as a nonresident alien individual who is not present in the United States at any time.”

1996—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 104–188 added subsec. (d).

1977—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 95–30 substituted “section 1(e)” for “section 1(d)” in introductory provisions.

1976—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 94–455 added subsec. (c).

1969—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 91–172 substituted “The tax imposed by section 1(d)” for “The taxes imposed by this chapter on individuals”.

Effective Date of 2017 Amendment

Pub. L. 115–97, title I, § 13542(b), Dec. 22, 2017, 131 Stat. 2154, provided that: “The amendment made by this section [amending this section] shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017.”

Effective Date of 2007 Amendment

Pub. L. 110–28, title VIII, § 8236(b), May 25, 2007, 121 Stat. 199, provided that: “The amendment made by this section [amending this section] shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2006.”

Effective Date of 1998 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 105–206 effective, except as otherwise provided, as if included in the provisions of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, Pub. L. 105–34, to which such amendment relates, see section 6024 of Pub. L. 105–206, set out as a note under section 1 of this title.

Effective Date of 1997 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 105–34 effective as if included in the provisions of the Small Business Job Protection Act of 1996, Pub. L. 104–188, to which it relates, see section 1601(j) of Pub. L. 105–34, set out as a note under section 23 of this title.

Effective Date of 1996 Amendment

Pub. L. 104–188, title I, § 1317(a), Aug. 20, 1996, 110 Stat. 1787, provided that: “Except as otherwise provided in this subtitle [subtitle C (§§ 1301–1317) of title I of Pub. L. 104–188], the amendments made by this subtitle [amending this section and sections 170, 404, 512, 1042, 1237, 1361, 1362, 1366 to 1368, 1371, 1375, 1377, 1504, 6037, and 6233 of this title and repealing sections 6241 to 6245 of this title] shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1996.”

Effective Date of 1977 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 95–30 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1976, see section 106(a) of Pub. L. 95–30, set out as a note under section 1 of this title.

Effective Date of 1976 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 94–455 applicable to transfers in trust made after May 21, 1976, see section 701(h) of Pub. L. 94–455, set out as a note under section 667 of this title.

Effective Date of 1969 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 91–172 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1970, see section 803(f) of Pub. L. 91–172, set out as a note under section 1 of this title.