Internal Revenue Code · 26 U.S.C.
§ 7872. Treatment of loans with below-market interest rates
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. § 7872
At a glance
Read from the text, the source credit and the official notes. Not part of the law.
- Status
- In force
- Added
- July 18, 1984 by Pub. L. 98–369
- Last amended
- December 22, 2017 by Pub. L. 115–97
- Amendments
- 10 dated changes in the source credit
- Length
- 9 subsections · 2,936 words · about 13 min to read
- Defines
- 14 terms
- Cross-references
- cites 7; cited by 3 Code sections and 22 other regulations
- Regulations
- 4 issued under this section
Except as otherwise provided in regulations prescribed by the Secretary, any forgone interest attributable to periods during any calendar year shall be treated as transferred (and retransferred) under paragraph (1) on the last day of such calendar year.
Any below-market loan to which paragraph (1) applies shall be treated as having original issue discount in an amount equal to the excess described in paragraph (1).
Any original issue discount which a loan is treated as having by reason of subparagraph (A) shall be in addition to any other original issue discount on such loan (determined without regard to subparagraph (A)).
Any below-market loan directly or indirectly between a corporation and any shareholder of such corporation.
Any below-market loan 1 of the principal purposes of the interest arrangements of which is the avoidance of any Federal tax.
To the extent provided in regulations, any below-market loan which is not described in subparagraph (A), (B), (C), or (F) if the interest arrangements of such loan have a significant effect on any Federal tax liability of the lender or the borrower.
Any loan to any qualified continuing care facility pursuant to a continuing care contract.
In the case of any gift loan directly between individuals, this section shall not apply to any day on which the aggregate outstanding amount of loans between such individuals does not exceed $10,000.
Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to any gift loan directly attributable to the purchase or carrying of income-producing assets.
In the case of any loan described in subparagraph (B) or (C) of paragraph (1), this section shall not apply to any day on which the aggregate outstanding amount of loans between the borrower and lender does not exceed $10,000.
Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to any loan the interest arrangements of which have as 1 of their principal purposes the avoidance of any Federal tax.
For purposes of subtitle A, in the case of a gift loan directly between individuals, the amount treated as retransferred by the borrower to the lender as of the close of any year shall not exceed the borrower’s net investment income for such year.
Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to any loan the interest arrangements of which have as 1 of their principal purposes the avoidance of any Federal tax.
For purposes of subparagraph (A), in any case in which a borrower has outstanding more than 1 gift loan, the net investment income of such borrower shall be allocated among such loans in proportion to the respective amounts which would be treated as retransferred by the borrower without regard to this paragraph.
This paragraph shall not apply to any loan made by a lender to a borrower for any day on which the aggregate outstanding amount of loans between the borrower and lender exceeds $100,000.
The term “net investment income” has the meaning given such term by section 163(d)(4).
If the net investment income of any borrower for any year does not exceed $1,000, the net investment income of such borrower for such year shall be treated as zero.
In determining the net investment income of a person for any year, any amount which would be included in the gross income of such person for such year by reason of section 1272 if such section applied to all deferred payment obligations shall be treated as interest received by such person for such year.
The term “deferred payment obligation” includes any market discount bond, short-term obligation, United States savings bond, annuity, or similar obligation.
In the case of any term loan, the applicable Federal rate shall be the applicable Federal rate in effect under section 1274(d) (as of the day on which the loan was made), compounded semiannually.
In the case of a demand loan, the applicable Federal rate shall be the Federal short-term rate in effect under section 1274(d) for the period for which the amount of forgone interest is being determined, compounded semiannually.
The term “gift loan” means any below-market loan where the forgoing of interest is in the nature of a gift.
The term “demand loan” means any loan which is payable in full at any time on the demand of the lender. Such term also includes (for purposes other than determining the applicable Federal rate under paragraph (2)) any loan if the benefits of the interest arrangements of such loan are not transferable and are conditioned on the future performance of substantial services by an individual. To the extent provided in regulations, such term also includes any loan with an indefinite maturity.
This section shall not apply to any loan to which section 483, 643(i), or 1274 applies.
In the case of any term loan made by an employer to an employee the proceeds of which are used by the employee to purchase a principal residence (within the meaning of section 121), the determination of the applicable Federal rate shall be made as of the date the written contract to purchase such residence was entered into.
Subparagraph (A) shall only apply to the purchase of a principal residence in connection with the commencement of work by an employee or a change in the principal place of work of an employee to which section 217 applies.
This section shall not apply for any calendar year to any below-market loan made by a lender to a qualified continuing care facility pursuant to a continuing care contract if the lender (or the lender’s spouse) attains age 65 before the close of such year.
Paragraph (1) shall apply only to the extent that the aggregate outstanding amount of any loan to which such paragraph applies (determined without regard to this paragraph), when added to the aggregate outstanding amount of all other previous loans between the lender (or the lender’s spouse) and any qualified continuing care facility to which paragraph (1) applies, does not exceed $90,000.
A facility shall not be treated as a qualified continuing care facility unless substantially all facilities which are used to provide services which are required to be provided under a continuing care contract are owned or operated by the borrower.
The term “qualified continuing care facility” shall not include any facility which is of a type which is traditionally considered a nursing home.
This section shall not apply for any calendar year to any below-market loan owed by a facility which on the last day of such year is a qualified continuing care facility, if such loan was made pursuant to a continuing care contract and if the lender (or the lender’s spouse) attains age 62 before the close of such year.
The term “qualified continuing care facility” shall not include any facility which is of a type which is traditionally considered a nursing home.
(Added Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title I, § 172(a), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 699; amended Pub. L. 99–121, title II, §§ 201, 202, Oct. 11, 1985, 99 Stat. 511–513; Pub. L. 99–514, title V, § 511(d)(1), title XVIII, §§ 1812(b)(2)–(4), 1854(c)(2)(B), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2248, 2834, 2879; Pub. L. 100–647, title I, §§ 1005(c)(15), 1018(u)(48), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3393, 3593; Pub. L. 104–188, title I, §§ 1602(b)(7), 1704(t)(58), 1906(c)(2), Aug. 20, 1996, 110 Stat. 1834, 1890, 1916; Pub. L. 105–34, title III, § 312(d)(1), Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 839; Pub. L. 105–206, title VI, § 6023(30), July 22, 1998, 112 Stat. 826; Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(7) [title III, § 319(30)], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A–648; Pub. L. 109–222, title II, § 209(a), (b)(1), May 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 351, 352; Pub. L. 109–432, div. A, title IV, § 425(a), Dec. 20, 2006, 120 Stat. 2974; Pub. L. 115–97, title I, § 11002(d)(14), Dec. 22, 2017, 131 Stat. 2062.)
Terms defined here
Where the text says “the term … means”. Select a term to jump to its definition.
- amount loaned § 7872(f)(4)
- below-market loan § 7872(e)(1)
- continuing care contract § 7872(g)(3)
- continuing care contract § 7872(h)(2)
- deferred payment obligation § 7872(d)(1)(E)(iv)
- demand loan § 7872(f)(5)
- forgone interest § 7872(e)(2)
- gift loan § 7872(f)(3)
- net investment income § 7872(d)(1)(E)(i)
- qualified continuing care facility § 7872(g)(4)(A)
- qualified continuing care facility § 7872(g)(4)(C)
- qualified continuing care facility § 7872(h)(3)(A)
- qualified continuing care facility § 7872(h)(3)(B)
- term loan § 7872(f)(6)
Regulations under this section
Treasury regulations (26 CFR) issued under § 7872
Cross-references
Computed from the citations in the text of Title 26 and 26 CFR.
This section cites 7 other sections
- § 163(d)(4) Interest
- § 1272 Current inclusion in income of original issue discount
- § 1274(d) Determination of issue price in the case of certain debt instruments issued for property
- § 483 Interest on certain deferred payments
- § 121 Exclusion of gain from sale of principal residence
- § 217 Moving expenses
- § 1(f)(3) Tax imposed
Cited by 3 Code sections
- § 142(d)(2)(B)(i) Exempt facility bond
- § 856(e)(6)(D)(ii) Definition of real estate investment trust
- § 4941(d)(2)(B) Taxes on self-dealing
Cited in 22 regulations not issued under it
- § 1.139E-1 Tribal general welfare benefits.
- § 1.163(j)-1 Definitions.
- § 1.267A-5 Definitions and special rules.
- § 1.267(a)-2T Temporary regulations; questions and answers arising under the Tax Reform Act of 1984 (temporary).
- § 1.385-3 Certain distributions of debt instruments and similar transactions.
- § 1.446-2 Method of accounting for interest.
- § 1.468B-6 Escrow accounts, trusts, and other funds used during deferred exchanges of like-kind property under section 1031(a)(3).
- § 1.469-7 Treatment of self-charged items of interest income and deduction.
- § 1.482-2 Determination of taxable income in specific situations.
- § 1.483-1 Interest on certain deferred payments.
- § 1.1271-0 Original issue discount; effective date; table of contents.
- § 1.1273-2 Determination of issue price and issue date.
- § 1.1274-1 Debt instruments to which section 1274 applies.
- § 1.1361-1 S corporation defined.
- § 1.1367-2 Adjustments to basis of indebtedness to shareholder.
- § 1.7520-3 Limitation on the application of section 7520.
- § 20.2207A-1 Right of recovery of estate taxes in the case of certain marital deduction property.
- § 20.7520-3 Limitation on the application of section 7520.
- § 25.2207A-1 Right of recovery of gift taxes in the case of certain marital deduction property.
- § 25.7520-3 Limitation on the application of section 7520.
- § 53.4958-4 Excess benefit transaction.
- § 53.4960-2 Determination of remuneration paid for a taxable year.
Amendment history
From the source credit and the official notes, newest first.
- Amended by Pub. L. 115–97Parts changed in 2017: (g)(5)
- Amended by Pub. L. 109–432Parts changed in 2006: (g)(6) (h) (h)(4) (i)
- Amended by Pub. L. 109–222
- Amended by Pub. L. 106–554Parts changed in 2000: (f)(3)
- Amended by Pub. L. 105–206Parts changed in 1998: (f)(2)(B)
- Amended by Pub. L. 105–34Parts changed in 1997: (f)(11)(A)
- Amended by Pub. L. 104–188Parts changed in 1996: (a)(1) (e) (e)(2) (f)(8) (f)(12)
- Amended by Pub. L. 100–647Parts changed in 1988: (d)(1)(E)(i) (f)(11)
- Amended by Pub. L. 99–514Parts changed in 1986: (d)(1)(E)(i) (f)(2)(B) (f)(5) (f)(9) (f)(11)
- Amended by Pub. L. 99–121Parts changed in 1985: (c)(1) (c)(1)(E) (c)(1)(F) (f)(11) (g)
- Added by Pub. L. 98–369
Where it sits in the Code
- Subtitle F Procedure and Administration
- Chapter 80 GENERAL RULES
- Subchapter C Provisions Affecting More Than One Subtitle
Nearby sections
- § 7871 Indian tribal governments treated as States for certain purposes
- § 7872 Treatment of loans with below-market interest rates
- § 7873 Income derived by Indians from exercise of fishing rights
- § 7874 Rules relating to expatriated entities and their foreign parents
Official notes
Show the Law Revision Counsel's notes (amendments, effective dates)
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2017—Subsec. (g)(5). Pub. L. 115–97 amended par. (5) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows:
“(A) In general.—In the case of any loan made during any calendar year after 1986 to which paragraph (1) applies, the dollar amount in paragraph (2) shall be increased by the inflation adjustment for such calendar year. Any increase under the preceding sentence shall be rounded to the nearest multiple of $100 (or, if such increase is a multiple of $50, such increase shall be increased to the nearest multiple of $100).
“(B) Inflation adjustment.—For purposes of subparagraph (A), the inflation adjustment for any calendar year is the percentage (if any) by which—
“(i) the CPI for the preceding calendar year exceeds
“(ii) the CPI for calendar year 1985.
For purposes of the preceding sentence, the CPI for any calendar year is the average of the Consumer Price Index as of the close of the 12-month period ending on September 30 of such calendar year.”
2006—Subsec. (g)(6). Pub. L. 109–222, § 209(b)(1), added par. (6).
Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 109–222, § 209(a), added subsec. (h). Former subsec. (h) redesignated (i).
Subsec. (h)(4). Pub. L. 109–432 struck out heading and text of par. (4). Text read as follows: “This subsection shall not apply to any calendar year after 2010.”
Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 109–222, § 209(a), redesignated subsec. (h) as (i).
2000—Subsec. (f)(3). Pub. L. 106–554 substituted “forgoing” for “foregoing”.
1998—Subsec. (f)(2)(B). Pub. L. 105–206 substituted “forgone” for “foregone”.
1997—Subsec. (f)(11)(A). Pub. L. 105–34 substituted “section 121” for “section 1034”.
1996—Subsec. (a)(1), (2). Pub. L. 104–188, § 1704(t)(58)(A), substituted “forgone” for “foregone”.
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 104–188, § 1704(t)(58)(B), substituted “forgone” for “foregone” in heading.
Subsec. (e)(2). Pub. L. 104–188, § 1704(t)(58), substituted “Forgone” for “Foregone” in heading and “forgone” for “foregone” in introductory provisions of text.
Subsec. (f)(8). Pub. L. 104–188, § 1906(c)(2), inserted “, 643(i),” before “or 1274” in heading and text.
Subsec. (f)(12). Pub. L. 104–188, § 1602(b)(7), struck out par. (12) which read as follows: “Special rule for certain employer security loans.—This section shall not apply to any loan between a corporation (or any member of the controlled group of corporations which includes such corporation) and an employee stock ownership plan described in section 4975(e)(7) to the extent that the interest rate on such loan is equal to the interest rate paid on a related securities acquisition loan (as described in section 133(b)) to such corporation.”
1988—Subsec. (d)(1)(E)(i). Pub. L. 100–647, § 1005(c)(15), directed substitution of “section 163(d)(4)” for “section 163(d)(3)”, which substitution had been previously made by Pub. L. 99–514, § 511(d)(1).
Subsec. (f)(11), (12). Pub. L. 100–647, § 1018(u)(48), redesignated former par. (11), Pub. L. 99–514, relating to special rule for certain employer security loans, as (12).
1986—Subsec. (d)(1)(E)(i). Pub. L. 99–514, § 511(d)(1), substituted “section 163(d)(4)” for “section 163(d)(3)”.
Subsec. (f)(2)(B). Pub. L. 99–514, § 1812(b)(4), inserted “, compounded semiannually” before the period at end.
Subsec. (f)(5). Pub. L. 99–514, § 1812(b)(3), amended par. (5) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (5) read as follows: “The term ‘demand loan’ means any loan which is payable in full at any time on the demand of the lender. Such term also includes (for purposes other than determining the applicable Federal rate under paragraph (2)) any loan which is not transferable and the benefits of the interest arrangements of which is conditioned on the future performance of substantial services by an individual.”
Subsec. (f)(9). Pub. L. 99–514, § 1812(b)(2), amended par. (9) generally, inserting the subpar. (A) designation and adding subpar. (B).
Subsec. (f)(11). Pub. L. 99–514, § 1854(c)(2)(B), added par. (11) relating to special rule for certain employer security loans.
1985—Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 99–121, § 201(c)(1), inserted “and subsection (g)” after “this subsection” in provisions preceding subpar. (A).
Subsec. (c)(1)(E). Pub. L. 99–121, § 201(c)(2), substituted “(C), or (F)” for “or (C)”.
Subsec. (c)(1)(F). Pub. L. 99–121, § 201(b), added subpar. (F).
Subsec. (f)(11). Pub. L. 99–121, § 202, added par. (11) relating to time for determining rate applicable to employee relocation loans.
Subsecs. (g), (h). Pub. L. 99–121, § 201(a), added subsec. (g) and redesignated former subsec. (g) as (h).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2017 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 115–97 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 2017, see section 11002(e) of Pub. L. 115–97, set out as a note under section 1 of this title.
Effective Date of 2006 Amendment
Pub. L. 109–432, div. A, title IV, § 425(b), Dec. 20, 2006, 120 Stat. 2974, provided that: “The amendment made by this section [amending this section] shall take effect as if included in section 209 of the Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act of 2005 [Pub. L. 109–222].”
Amendment by Pub. L. 109–222 applicable to calendar years beginning after Dec. 31, 2005, with respect to loans made before, on, or after such date, see section 209(c) of Pub. L. 109–222, set out as a note under section 142 of this title.
Effective Date of 1997 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 105–34 applicable to sales and exchanges after May 6, 1997, with certain exceptions, see section 312(d) of Pub. L. 105–34, set out as a note under section 121 of this title.
Effective Date of 1996 Amendment
Amendment by section 1602(b)(7) of Pub. L. 104–188 applicable to loans made after Aug. 20, 1996, with exception and provisions relating to certain refinancings, see section 1602(c) of Pub. L. 104–188, set out as an Effective Date of Repeal note under former section 133 of this title.
Amendment by section 1906(c)(2) of Pub. L. 104–188 applicable to loans of cash or marketable securities made after Sept. 19, 1995, see section 1906(d)(3) of Pub. L. 104–188, set out as a note under section 643 of this title.
Effective Date of 1988 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 100–647 effective, except as otherwise provided, as if included in the provision of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, Pub. L. 99–514, to which such amendment relates, see section 1019(a) of Pub. L. 100–647, set out as a note under section 1 of this title.
Effective Date of 1986 Amendment
Amendment by section 511(d)(1) of Pub. L. 99–514 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1986, see section 511(e) of Pub. L. 99–514, set out as a note under section 163 of this title.
Amendment by sections 1812(b)(2)–(4) and 1854(c)(2)(B) of Pub. L. 99–514 effective, except as otherwise provided, as if included in the provisions of the Tax Reform Act of 1984, Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, to which such amendment relates, see section 1881 of Pub. L. 99–514, set out as a note under section 48 of this title.
Effective Date of 1985 Amendment
Pub. L. 99–121, title II, § 204(a), (b), Oct. 11, 1985, 99 Stat. 514, as amended by Pub. L. 99–514, § 2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2095, provided that:
“(a) Section 201.—“(1) In general.— The amendments made by section 201 [amending this section] shall apply with respect to loans made after the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 11, 1985].“(2) Section 7872 not to apply to certain loans.— Section 7872 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [formerly I.R.C. 1954] shall not apply to loans made on or before the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 11, 1985] to any qualified continuing care facility pursuant to a continuing care contract. For purposes of this paragraph, the terms ‘qualified continuing care facility’ and ‘continuing care contract’ have the meanings given such terms by section 7872(g) of such Code (as added by section 201).“(b) Section 202.— The amendment made by section 202 [amending this section] shall apply to contracts entered into after June 30, 1985, in taxable years ending after such date.”
Effective Date
Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title I, § 172(c), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 703, as amended by Pub. L. 99–514, § 2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2095, provided that:
“(1) In general.— Except as provided in paragraph (2), the amendments made by this section [enacting this section] shall apply to—“(A) term loans made after June 6, 1984, and“(B) demand loans outstanding after June 6, 1984.“(2) Exception for demand loans outstanding on june 6, 1984, and repaid within 60 days after date of enactment.— The amendments made by this section shall not apply to any demand loan which—“(A) was outstanding on June 6, 1984, and“(B) was repaid before the date 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [July 18, 1984].“(3) Exception for certain existing loans to continuing care facilities.— Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to apply the amendments made by this section to any loan made before June 6, 1984, to a continuing care facility by a resident of such facility which is contingent on continued residence at such facility.“(4) Applicable federal rate for periods before january 1, 1985.— For periods before January 1, 1985, the applicable Federal rate under paragraph (2) of section 7872(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [formerly I.R.C. 1954], as added by this section, shall be 10 percent, compounded semiannually.“(5) Treatment of renegotiations, etc.— For purposes of this subsection, any loan renegotiated, extended, or revised after June 6, 1984, shall be treated as a loan made after such date.“(6) Definition of term and demand loans.— For purposes of this subsection, the terms ‘demand loan’ and ‘term loan’ have the respective meanings given such terms by paragraphs (5) and (6) of section 7872(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as added by this section, but the second sentence of such paragraph (5) shall not apply.”
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.
Certain Israel or Polish Bonds Not Subject to Rules Relating to Below-Market Loans
Pub. L. 99–514, title XVIII, § 1812(b)(5), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2834, as amended by Pub. L. 101–179, title III, § 307(a), Nov. 28, 1989, 103 Stat. 1314, provided that:
“Section 7872 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 [now 1986] (relating to treatment of loans with below-market interest rates) shall not apply to any obligation issued by Israel or Poland if—“(A) the obligation is payable in United States dollars, and“(B) the obligation bears interest at an annual rate of not less than 4 percent.”
[Pub. L. 101–179, title III, § 307(b), Nov. 28, 1989, 103 Stat. 1314, provided that: “The amendments made by this section [amending section 1812(b)(5) of Pub. L. 99–514, set out above] shall apply to obligations issued after the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 28, 1989].”
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