Exclusion
In general
Empowerment zone businesses
In general
In the case of qualified small business stock acquired after the date of the enactment of this paragraph in a corporation which is a qualified business entity (as defined in section 1397C(b)) during substantially all of the taxpayer’s holding period for such stock, paragraph (1) shall be applied by substituting “60 percent” for “50 percent”.
Certain rules to apply
Rules similar to the rules of paragraphs (5) and (7) of section 1400B(b) (as in effect before its repeal) shall apply for purposes of this paragraph.
Gain after 2018 not qualified
Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to gain attributable to periods after .
Treatment of DC zone
The District of Columbia Enterprise Zone shall not be treated as an empowerment zone for purposes of this paragraph.
Special rules for 2009 and certain periods in 2010
100 percent exclusion for stock acquired during certain periods in 2010 and thereafter
Applicable percentage
Years stock held: | Applicable percentage: |
|---|---|
3 years | 50% |
4 years | 75% |
5 years or more | 100% |
Applicable date; acquisition date
Applicable date
The term “applicable date” means the date of the enactment of this paragraph.
Acquisition date
In the case of any stock which would (but for this paragraph) be treated as having been acquired before, on, or after the applicable date, whichever is applicable, the acquisition date for purposes of this section shall be the first day on which such stock was held by the taxpayer determined after the application of section 1223.
Per-issuer limitation on taxpayer’s eligible gain
In general
Eligible gain
For purposes of this subsection, the term “eligible gain” means any gain from the sale or exchange of qualified small business stock held for at least 3 years (more than 5 years in the case of stock acquired on or before the applicable date).
Treatment of married individuals
Separate returns
Allocation of exclusion
In the case of any joint return, the amount of gain taken into account under subsection (a) shall be allocated equally between the spouses for purposes of applying this subsection to subsequent taxable years.
Marital status
For purposes of this subsection, marital status shall be determined under section 7703.
22 So in original. There are two pars. (4). Applicable dollar limit
Inflation adjustment
In general
No increase once limit reached
If, for any taxable year, the eligible gain attributable to dispositions of stock issued by a corporation and acquired by the taxpayer after the applicable date exceeds the applicable dollar limit, then notwithstanding any increase under subparagraph (A) for any subsequent taxable year, the applicable dollar limit for such subsequent taxable year shall be zero.
2 Inflation adjustment
Qualified small business stock
In general
Active business requirement; etc.
In general
Stock in a corporation shall not be treated as qualified small business stock unless, during substantially all of the taxpayer’s holding period for such stock, such corporation meets the active business requirements of subsection (e) and such corporation is a C corporation.
Special rule for certain small business investment companies
Waiver of active business requirement
Notwithstanding any provision of subsection (e), a corporation shall be treated as meeting the active business requirements of such subsection for any period during which such corporation qualifies as a specialized small business investment company.
Specialized small business investment company
For purposes of clause (i), the term “specialized small business investment company” means any eligible corporation (as defined in subsection (e)(4)) which is licensed to operate under section 301(d) of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 (as in effect on ).
Certain purchases by corporation of its own stock
Redemptions from taxpayer or related person
Stock acquired by the taxpayer shall not be treated as qualified small business stock if, at any time during the 4-year period beginning on the date 2 years before the issuance of such stock, the corporation issuing such stock purchased (directly or indirectly) any of its stock from the taxpayer or from a person related (within the meaning of section 267(b) or 707(b)) to the taxpayer.
Significant redemptions
Stock issued by a corporation shall not be treated as qualified business stock if, during the 2-year period beginning on the date 1 year before the issuance of such stock, such corporation made 1 or more purchases of its stock with an aggregate value (as of the time of the respective purchases) exceeding 5 percent of the aggregate value of all of its stock as of the beginning of such 2-year period.
Treatment of certain transactions
If any transaction is treated under section 304(a) as a distribution in redemption of the stock of any corporation, for purposes of subparagraphs (A) and (B), such corporation shall be treated as purchasing an amount of its stock equal to the amount treated as such a distribution under section 304(a).
Qualified small business
In general
Aggregate gross assets
In general
For purposes of paragraph (1), the term “aggregate gross assets” means the amount of cash and the aggregate adjusted bases of other property held by the corporation.
Treatment of contributed property
For purposes of subparagraph (A), the adjusted basis of any property contributed to the corporation (or other property with a basis determined in whole or in part by reference to the adjusted basis of property so contributed) shall be determined as if the basis of the property contributed to the corporation (immediately after such contribution) were equal to its fair market value as of the time of such contribution.
Aggregation rules
In general
All corporations which are members of the same parent-subsidiary controlled group shall be treated as 1 corporation for purposes of this subsection.
Parent-subsidiary controlled group
Active business requirement
In general
Special rule for certain activities
Qualified trade or business
Eligible corporation
Stock in other corporations
Look-thru in case of subsidiaries
For purposes of this subsection, stock and debt in any subsidiary corporation shall be disregarded and the parent corporation shall be deemed to own its ratable share of the subsidiary’s assets, and to conduct its ratable share of the subsidiary’s activities.
Portfolio stock or securities
A corporation shall be treated as failing to meet the requirements of paragraph (1) for any period during which more than 10 percent of the value of its assets (in excess of liabilities) consists of stock or securities in other corporations which are not subsidiaries of such corporation (other than assets described in paragraph (6)).
Subsidiary
For purposes of this paragraph, a corporation shall be considered a subsidiary if the parent owns more than 50 percent of the combined voting power of all classes of stock entitled to vote, or more than 50 percent in value of all outstanding stock, of such corporation.
Working capital
Maximum real estate holdings
A corporation shall not be treated as meeting the requirements of paragraph (1) for any period during which more than 10 percent of the total value of its assets consists of real property which is not used in the active conduct of a qualified trade or business. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the ownership of, dealing in, or renting of real property shall not be treated as the active conduct of a qualified trade or business.
Computer software royalties
For purposes of paragraph (1), rights to computer software which produces active business computer software royalties (within the meaning of section 543(d)(1)) shall be treated as an asset used in the active conduct of a trade or business.
Stock acquired on conversion of other stock
Treatment of pass-thru entities
In general
Requirements
Limitation based on interest originally held by taxpayer
Paragraph (1) shall not apply to any amount to the extent such amount exceeds the amount to which paragraph (1) would have applied if such amount were determined by reference to the interest the taxpayer held in the pass-thru entity on the date the qualified small business stock was acquired.
Pass-thru entity
Certain tax-free and other transfers
In general
Description of transfers
Certain rules made applicable
Rules similar to the rules of section 1244(d)(2) shall apply for purposes of this section.
Incorporations and reorganizations involving nonqualified stock
In general
In the case of a transaction described in section 351 or a reorganization described in section 368, if qualified small business stock is exchanged for other stock which would not qualify as qualified small business stock but for this subparagraph, such other stock shall be treated as qualified small business stock acquired on the date on which the exchanged stock was acquired.
Limitation
This section shall apply to gain from the sale or exchange of stock treated as qualified small business stock by reason of subparagraph (A) only to the extent of the gain which would have been recognized at the time of the transfer described in subparagraph (A) if section 351 or 368 had not applied at such time. The preceding sentence shall not apply if the stock which is treated as qualified small business stock by reason of subparagraph (A) is issued by a corporation which (as of the time of the transfer described in subparagraph (A)) is a qualified small business.
Successive application
For purposes of this paragraph, stock treated as qualified small business stock under subparagraph (A) shall be so treated for subsequent transactions or reorganizations, except that the limitation of subparagraph (B) shall be applied as of the time of the first transfer to which such limitation applied (determined after the application of the second sentence of subparagraph (B)).
Control test
In the case of a transaction described in section 351, this paragraph shall apply only if, immediately after the transaction, the corporation issuing the stock owns directly or indirectly stock representing control (within the meaning of section 368(c)) of the corporation whose stock was exchanged.
Basis rules
Stock exchanged for property
Treatment of contributions to capital
If the adjusted basis of any qualified small business stock is adjusted by reason of any contribution to capital after the date on which such stock was originally issued, in determining the amount of the adjustment by reason of such contribution, the basis of the contributed property shall in no event be treated as less than its fair market value on the date of the contribution.
Treatment of certain short positions
In general
Offsetting short position
Regulations
The Secretary shall prescribe such regulations as may be appropriate to carry out the purposes of this section, including regulations to prevent the avoidance of the purposes of this section through split-ups, shell corporations, partnerships, or otherwise.
Pub. L. 103–66, title XIII, § 13113(a)107 Stat. 422Pub. L. 104–188, title I, § 1621(b)(7)110 Stat. 1867Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(7) [title I, § 117(a), (b)(2)]114 Stat. 2763Pub. L. 108–357, title VIII, § 835(b)(9)118 Stat. 1594Pub. L. 111–5, div. B, title I, § 1241(a)123 Stat. 342Pub. L. 111–240, title II, § 2011(a)124 Stat. 2554Pub. L. 111–312, title VII124 Stat. 3321Pub. L. 112–240, title III126 Stat. 2333Pub. L. 113–295, div. A, title I, § 136(a)128 Stat. 4019Pub. L. 114–113, div. Q, title I, § 126(a)129 Stat. 3054Pub. L. 115–141, div. U, title IV, § 401(d)(1)(D)(xv)132 Stat. 1208Pub. L. 119–21, title VII139 Stat. 192(Added , , ; amended , , ; , , , 2763A–604; , , ; , , ; , (b), , ; , §§ 753(b), 760(a), , , 3323; , §§ 324(a), (b), 327(b), , , 2334; , , ; , , ; , (4)(B)(v), , , 1209; , §§ 70302(b)(11), 70431(a)(1)–(3), (4)(B), (5), (b)(1)–(3), (c)(1), (2), , , 240–242.)
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Pub. L. 106–554The date of the enactment of this paragraph, referred to in subsec. (a)(2)(A), is the date of enactment of , which was approved .
Pub. L. 115–141, div. U, title IV, § 401(d)(4)(A)132 Stat. 1209Section 1400B(b), referred to in subsec. (a)(2)(B), was repealed by , , .
Pub. L. 111–5The date of the enactment of this paragraph, referred to in subsec. (a)(3), is the date of enactment of , which was approved .
Pub. L. 111–240The date of the enactment of the Creating Small Business Jobs Act of 2010, referred to in subsec. (a)(3), (4), is the date of enactment of , which was approved .
Pub. L. 119–21The date of the enactment of this paragraph, referred to in subsec. (a)(6)(A), is the date of enactment of , which was approved .
Pub. L. 103–66The date of the enactment of the Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1993, referred to in subsecs. (c)(1) and (d)(1)(A), is the date of enactment of , which was approved .
section 681(d) of Title 15Pub. L. 104–208, div. D, title II, § 208(b)(3)(A)110 Stat. 3009–742Section 301(d) of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958, referred to in subsec. (c)(2)(B)(ii), was classified to , Commerce and Trade, prior to repeal by , , .
Prior Provisions
Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 73668A Stat. 320Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, § 1901(b)(33)(M)90 Stat. 1802Pub. L. 95–600, title IV, § 402(a)92 Stat. 2867Pub. L. 96–222, title I, § 104(a)(2)(A)94 Stat. 214Pub. L. 99–514, title III, § 301(a)100 Stat. 2216A prior section 1202, acts , ; , , ; , , ; , , , authorized deduction for capital gains, prior to repeal by , (c), , , 2218, applicable to taxable years beginning after .
Amendments
Pub. L. 119–21, § 70431(a)(1)2025—Subsec. (a)(1). , amended par. (1) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “In the case of a taxpayer other than a corporation, gross income shall not include 50 percent of any gain from the sale or exchange of qualified small business stock held for more than 5 years.”
Pub. L. 119–21, § 70431(a)(5)(A)Subsec. (a)(3)(A). , substituted “paragraph (1)(A)” for “paragraph (1)”.
Pub. L. 119–21, § 70431(a)(5)(B)Subsec. (a)(4). , which directed amendment of par. (4)(A) of subsec. (a) by inserting “and on or before the applicable date” after “2010”, was executed by making the insertion in introductory provisions of par. (4) to reflect the probable intent of Congress.
Pub. L. 119–21, § 70431(a)(5)(A)Subsec. (a)(4)(A). , substituted “paragraph (1)(A)” for “paragraph (1)”.
Pub. L. 119–21, § 70431(a)(4)(B)Subsec. (a)(4)(C). , struck out subpar. (C) which read as follows: “paragraph (7) of section 57(a) shall not apply.”
Pub. L. 119–21, § 70431(a)(2)Subsec. (a)(5). , added par. (5).
Pub. L. 119–21, § 70431(a)(3)Subsec. (a)(6). , added par. (6).
Pub. L. 119–21, § 70431(b)(1)Subsec. (b)(1)(A). , amended subpar. (A) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (A) read as follows: “$10,000,000 reduced by the aggregate amount of eligible gain taken into account by the taxpayer under subsection (a) for prior taxable years and attributable to dispositions of stock issued by such corporation, or”.
Pub. L. 119–21, § 70431(a)(5)(C)Subsec. (b)(2). , substituted “at least 3 years (more than 5 years in the case of stock acquired on or before the applicable date)” for “more than 5 years”.
Pub. L. 119–21, § 70431(b)(3)Subsec. (b)(3)(A). , amended subpar. (A) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “In the case of a separate return by a married individual, paragraph (1)(A) shall be applied by substituting ‘$5,000,000’ for ‘$10,000,000’.”
Pub. L. 119–21, § 70431(c)(2)Pub. L. 119–21, § 70431(b)(2)Subsec. (b)(4). , added par. (4) relating to inflation adjustment. Paragraph was added as directed “at the end” of subsec. (b), and therefore after par. (5) of subsec. (b) as added by . See note below.
Pub. L. 119–21, § 70431(b)(2), added par. (4) relating to applicable dollar limit.
Pub. L. 119–21, § 70431(b)(2)Subsec. (b)(5). , added par. (5).
Pub. L. 119–21, § 70431(c)(1)Subsec. (d)(1)(A), (B). , substituted “$75,000,000” for “$50,000,000”.
Pub. L. 119–21, § 70302(b)(11)Subsec. (e)(2)(B). , substituted “which are treated as foreign research or experimental expenditures under section 174 or domestic research or experimental expenditures under section 174A” for “which may be treated as research and experimental expenditures under section 174”.
Pub. L. 119–21, § 70431(a)(5)(C)Subsecs. (g)(2)(A), (j)(1)(A). , substituted “at least 3 years (more than 5 years in the case of stock acquired on or before the applicable date)” for “more than 5 years”.
Pub. L. 115–141, § 401(d)(4)(B)(v)2018—Subsec. (a)(2)(B). , inserted “(as in effect before its repeal)” after “1400B(b)”.
Pub. L. 115–141, § 401(d)(1)(D)(xv)Subsec. (e)(4)(B) to (D). , redesignated subpars. (C) and (D) as (B) and (C), respectively, and struck out former subpar. (B) which read as follows: “a corporation with respect to which an election under section 936 is in effect or which has a direct or indirect subsidiary with respect to which such an election is in effect,”.
Pub. L. 114–1132015—Subsec. (a)(4). substituted “and thereafter” for “, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014” in heading and struck out “and before ” after “of the Creating Small Business Jobs Act of 2010” in introductory provisions.
Pub. L. 113–2952014—Subsec. (a)(4). substituted “2013, and 2014” for “and 2013” in heading and “” for “” in introductory provisions.
Pub. L. 112–240, § 327(b)2013—Subsec. (a)(2)(C). , substituted “2018” for “2016” in heading and “” for “” in text.
Pub. L. 112–240, § 324(b)(1)Subsec. (a)(3). , inserted concluding provisions.
Pub. L. 112–240, § 324(b)(2)Subsec. (a)(4). , inserted concluding provisions.
Pub. L. 112–240, § 324(a), substituted “, 2011, 2012, and 2013” for “and 2011” in heading and “” for “” in introductory provisions.
Pub. L. 111–312, § 753(b)2010—Subsec. (a)(2)(C). , substituted “2016” for “2014” in heading and “” for “” in text.
Pub. L. 111–240, § 2011(b)Subsec. (a)(3). , inserted “certain periods in” before “2010” in heading and substituted “on or before the date of the enactment of the Creating Small Business Jobs Act of 2010” for “before ” in text.
Pub. L. 111–312, § 760(a)Subsec. (a)(4). , inserted “and 2011” after “2010” in heading and substituted “” for “” in introductory provisions.
Pub. L. 111–240, § 2011(a), added par. (4).
Pub. L. 111–52009—Subsec. (a)(3). added par. (3).
Pub. L. 108–3572004—Subsec. (e)(4)(C). substituted “or REMIC” for “REMIC, or FASIT”.
Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(7) [title I, § 117(b)(2)]2000—, substituted “Partial” for “50-percent” in section catchline.
Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(7) [title I, § 117(a)]Subsec. (a). , amended heading and text of subsec. (a) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “In the case of a taxpayer other than a corporation, gross income shall not include 50 percent of any gain from the sale or exchange of qualified small business stock held for more than 5 years.”
Pub. L. 104–1881996—Subsec. (e)(4)(C). substituted “REMIC, or FASIT” for “or REMIC”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2025 Amendment
section 70302(b)(11) of Pub. L. 119–21Pub. L. 119–21section 174A of this titleAmendment by applicable to amounts paid or incurred in taxable years beginning after , subject to election for retroactive application by certain small businesses and election to deduct certain unamortized amounts paid or incurred in taxable years beginning before , see section 70302(e), (f) of , set out as an Effective Date note under .
Pub. L. 119–21section 2011 of Pub. L. 111–240section 70431(a)(6) of Pub. L. 119–21section 57 of this titleAmendment by section 70431(a)(1)–(3), (4)(B), (5) of generally applicable to taxable years beginning after , with amendment by section 70431(a)(4)(B) to take effect as if included in the enactment of , see , set out as a note under .
Pub. L. 119–21, title VII, § 70431(b)(4)139 Stat. 242
Pub. L. 119–21, title VII, § 70431(c)(3)139 Stat. 242
Effective Date of 2015 Amendment
Pub. L. 114–113, div. Q, title I, § 126(b)129 Stat. 3054
Effective Date of 2014 Amendment
Pub. L. 113–295, div. A, title I, § 136(b)128 Stat. 4019
Effective Date of 2013 Amendment
Pub. L. 112–240, title III, § 324(c)126 Stat. 2333
In general .—
Subsection (b)(1) .—
Subsection (b)(2) .—
Pub. L. 112–240, title III, § 327(d)126 Stat. 2334
Effective Date of 2010 Amendment
Pub. L. 111–312, title VII, § 753(d)124 Stat. 3321
Pub. L. 111–312, title VII, § 760(b)124 Stat. 3323
Pub. L. 111–240, title II, § 2011(c)124 Stat. 2554
Effective Date of 2009 Amendment
Pub. L. 111–5, div. B, title I, § 1241(b)123 Stat. 342
Effective Date of 2004 Amendment
Pub. L. 108–357section 835(c) of Pub. L. 108–357section 56 of this titleAmendment by effective , with exception for any FASIT in existence on , to the extent that regular interests issued by the FASIT before such date continue to remain outstanding in accordance with the original terms of issuance, see , set out as a note under .
Effective Date of 2000 Amendment
Pub. L. 106–554Pub. L. 106–554section 1 of this titleAmendment by applicable to stock acquired after , see section 1(a)(7) [title I, § 117(c)] of , set out as a note under .
Effective Date of 1996 Amendment
Pub. L. 104–188section 1621(d) of Pub. L. 104–188section 26 of this titleAmendment by effective , see , set out as a note under .
Effective Date
section 13113(e) of Pub. L. 103–66section 53 of this titleSection applicable to stock issued after , see , set out as an Effective Date of 1993 Amendment note under .
Savings Provision
section 401(d)(4)(B)(v) of Pub. L. 115–141section 401(d)(4)(C) of Pub. L. 115–141section 1400 of this titleAmendment by not applicable to certain obligations issued, DC Zone assets acquired, or principal residences acquired before , see , set out as a note under former .
Pub. L. 115–141section 401(e) of Pub. L. 115–141section 23 of this titleFor provisions that nothing in amendment by be construed to affect treatment of certain transactions occurring, property acquired, or items of income, loss, deduction, or credit taken into account prior to , for purposes of determining liability for tax for periods ending after , see , set out as a note under .
Special Rule for Pass-Through Entities
Pub. L. 96–222, title I, § 104(a)(2)(C)94 Stat. 215Pub. L. 99–514, § 2100 Stat. 2095