General rule
Except as otherwise provided in this section, income from an installment sale shall be taken into account for purposes of this title under the installment method.
Installment sale defined
In general
The term “installment sale” means a disposition of property where at least 1 payment is to be received after the close of the taxable year in which the disposition occurs.
Exceptions
Dealer dispositions
lAny dealer disposition (as defined in subsection ()).
Inventories of personal property
A disposition of personal property of a kind which is required to be included in the inventory of the taxpayer if on hand at the close of the taxable year.
Installment method defined
For purposes of this section, the term “installment method” means a method under which the income recognized for any taxable year from a disposition is that proportion of the payments received in that year which the gross profit (realized or to be realized when payment is completed) bears to the total contract price.
Election out
In general
Subsection (a) shall not apply to any disposition if the taxpayer elects to have subsection (a) not apply to such disposition.
Time and manner for making election
Except as otherwise provided by regulations, an election under paragraph (1) with respect to a disposition may be made only on or before the due date prescribed by law (including extensions) for filing the taxpayer’s return of the tax imposed by this chapter for the taxable year in which the disposition occurs. Such an election shall be made in the manner prescribed by regulations.
Election revocable only with consent
An election under paragraph (1) with respect to any disposition may be revoked only with the consent of the Secretary.
Second dispositions by related persons
In general
2-year cutoff for property other than marketable securities
In general
Except in the case of marketable securities, paragraph (1) shall apply only if the date of the second disposition is not more than 2 years after the date of the first disposition.
Substantial diminishing of risk of ownership
Limitation on amount treated as received
Fair market value where disposition is not sale or exchange
For purposes of this subsection, if the second disposition is not a sale or exchange, an amount equal to the fair market value of the property disposed of shall be substituted for the amount realized.
Later payments treated as receipt of tax paid amounts
If paragraph (1) applies for any taxable year, payments received in subsequent taxable years by the person making the first disposition shall not be treated as the receipt of payments with respect to the first disposition to the extent that the aggregate of such payments does not exceed the amount treated as received by reason of paragraph (1).
Exception for certain dispositions
Reacquisitions of stock by issuing corporation not treated as first dispositions
Any sale or exchange of stock to the issuing corporation shall not be treated as a first disposition.
Involuntary conversions not treated as second dispositions
A compulsory or involuntary conversion (within the meaning of section 1033) and any transfer thereafter shall not be treated as a second disposition if the first disposition occurred before the threat or imminence of the conversion.
Dispositions after death
Exception where tax avoidance not a principal purpose
This subsection shall not apply to a second disposition (and any transfer thereafter) if it is established to the satisfaction of the Secretary that neither the first disposition nor the second disposition had as one of its principal purposes the avoidance of Federal income tax.
Extension of statute of limitations
The period for assessing a deficiency with respect to a first disposition (to the extent such deficiency is attributable to the application of this subsection) shall not expire before the day which is 2 years after the date on which the person making the first disposition furnishes (in such manner as the Secretary may by regulations prescribe) a notice that there was a second disposition of the property to which this subsection may have applied. Such deficiency may be assessed notwithstanding the provisions of any law or rule of law which would otherwise prevent such assessment.
Definitions and special rules
Related person
Marketable securities
The term “marketable securities” means any security for which, as of the date of the disposition, there was a market on an established securities market or otherwise.
Payment
Except as provided in paragraph (4), the term “payment” does not include the receipt of evidences of indebtedness of the person acquiring the property (whether or not payment of such indebtedness is guaranteed by another person).
Purchaser evidences of indebtedness payable on demand or readily tradable
Readily tradable defined
Like-kind exchanges
Depreciable property
The term “depreciable property” means property of a character which (in the hands of the transferee) is subject to the allowance for depreciation provided in section 167.
Payments to be received defined
Sale of depreciable property to controlled entity
In general
Exception where tax avoidance not a principal purpose
Paragraph (1) shall not apply if it is established to the satisfaction of the Secretary that the disposition did not have as one of its principal purposes the avoidance of Federal income tax.
Related persons
For purposes of this subsection, the term “related persons” has the meaning given to such term by section 1239(b), except that such term shall include 2 or more partnerships having a relationship to each other described in section 707(b)(1)(B).
Use of installment method by shareholders in certain liquidations
Receipt of obligations not treated as receipt of payment
In general
If, in a liquidation to which section 331 applies, the shareholder receives (in exchange for the shareholder’s stock) an installment obligation acquired in respect of a sale or exchange by the corporation during the 12-month period beginning on the date a plan of complete liquidation is adopted and the liquidation is completed during such 12-month period, then, for purposes of this section, the receipt of payments under such obligation (but not the receipt of such obligation) by the shareholder shall be treated as the receipt of payment for the stock.
Obligations attributable to sale of inventory must result from bulk sale
Special rule where obligor and shareholder are related persons
Coordination with subsection (e)(1)(A)
For purposes of subsection (e)(1)(A), disposition of property by the corporation shall be treated also as disposition of such property by the shareholder.
Sales by liquidating subsidiaries
For purposes of subparagraph (A), in the case of a controlling corporate shareholder (within the meaning of section 368(c)) of a selling corporation, an obligation acquired in respect of a sale or exchange by the selling corporation shall be treated as so acquired by such controlling corporate shareholder. The preceding sentence shall be applied successively to each controlling corporate shareholder above such controlling corporate shareholder.
Distributions received in more than 1 taxable year of shareholder
Recognition of recapture income in year of disposition
In general
Recapture income
For purposes of paragraph (1), the term “recapture income” means, with respect to any installment sale, the aggregate amount which would be treated as ordinary income under section 1245 or 1250 (or so much of section 751 as relates to section 1245 or 1250) for the taxable year of the disposition if all payments to be received were received in the taxable year of disposition.
Regulations
In general
The Secretary shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the provisions of this section.
Selling price not readily ascertainable
The regulations prescribed under paragraph (1) shall include regulations providing for ratable basis recovery in transactions where the gross profit or the total contract price (or both) cannot be readily ascertained.
Current inclusion in case of revolving credit plans, etc.
Dealer dispositions
In general
Personal property
Any disposition of personal property by a person who regularly sells or otherwise disposes of personal property of the same type on the installment plan.
Real property
Any disposition of real property which is held by the taxpayer for sale to customers in the ordinary course of the taxpayer’s trade or business.
Exceptions
Farm property
The disposition on the installment plan of any property used or produced in the trade or business of farming (within the meaning of section 2032A(e)(4) or (5)).
Timeshares and residential lots
In general
Any dispositions described in clause (ii) on the installment plan if the taxpayer elects to have paragraph (3) apply to any installment obligations which arise from such dispositions. An election under this paragraph shall not apply with respect to an installment obligation which is guaranteed by any person other than an individual.
Dispositions to which subparagraph applies
Carrying charges or interest
Any carrying charges or interest with respect to a disposition described in subparagraph (A) or (B) which are added on the books of account of the seller to the established cash selling price of the property shall be included in the total contract price of the property and, if such charges or interest are not so included, any payments received shall be treated as applying first against such carrying charges or interest.
Payment of interest on timeshares and residential lots
In general
In the case of any installment obligation to which paragraph (2)(B) applies, the tax imposed by this chapter for any taxable year for which payment is received on such obligation shall be increased by the amount of interest determined in the manner provided under subparagraph (B).
Computation of interest
In general
Interest not taken into account
For purposes of clause (i), the portion of any tax attributable to the receipt of any payment shall be determined without regard to any interest imposed under subparagraph (A).
Taxable year of sale
No interest shall be determined for any payment received in the taxable year of the disposition from which the installment obligation arises.
Treatment as interest
Any amount payable under this paragraph shall be taken into account in computing the amount of any deduction allowable to the taxpayer for interest paid or accrued during such taxable year.
Pub. L. 96–471, § 2(a)94 Stat. 2247Pub. L. 97–34, title II, § 202(c)95 Stat. 221Pub. L. 97–448, title III, § 30396 Stat. 2398Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title I, § 112(a)98 Stat. 635Pub. L. 99–514, title VI100 Stat. 2274Pub. L. 100–203, title X, § 10202(b)101 Stat. 1330–388Pub. L. 100–647, title I102 Stat. 3401Pub. L. 106–170, title V, § 536(a)113 Stat. 1936Pub. L. 106–573, § 2(a)114 Stat. 3061Pub. L. 108–357, title VIII, § 897(a)118 Stat. 1649(Added , , ; amended , , ; , , ; , title IV, § 421(b)(6)(B), (C), , , 794; , §§ 631(e)(8), 642(a)(1)(D), (3), (b), title VIII, § 812(a), title XVIII, § 1809(c), , , 2284, 2371, 2821; , , ; , §§ 1006(e)(7), (i)(1), (2), 1008(g)(1), 1018(u)(25), (26), title II, § 2004(d)(1), (5), , , 3410, 3442, 3591, 3599; , , ; , , ; , , .)
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 73668A Stat. 154Pub. L. 85–866, title I, § 27(a)72 Stat. 1624Pub. L. 87–834, § 13(f)(5)76 Stat. 1035Pub. L. 88–272, title II78 Stat. 75Pub. L. 88–484, § 1(b)(2)78 Stat. 597Pub. L. 88–539, § 3(a)78 Stat. 746Pub. L. 89–570, § 1(b)(5)80 Stat. 762Pub. L. 89–809, title II, § 202(c)80 Stat. 1576Pub. L. 91–172, title II, § 211(b)(5)83 Stat. 570Pub. L. 94–455, title II, § 205(c)(1)(E)90 Stat. 1535Pub. L. 95–600, title VII, § 703(j)(3)92 Stat. 2941Pub. L. 96–222, title I, § 104(a)(4)(H)(iv)94 Stat. 217Pub. L. 96–223, title IV, § 403(b)(2)(B)94 Stat. 305Pub. L. 96–471, § 2(c)(4)94 Stat. 2254Pub. L. 96–471, § 2(a)94 Stat. 2247A prior section 453, acts , ; , , ; , , ; , , §§ 222(a), 231(b)(5), , 105; , , ; , , (b), ; , , ; , , ; , , title III, § 301(b)(7), title IV, § 412(a), title IX, § 916(a), , 585, 608, 723; , , title XIX, §§ 1901(a)(66), 1906(b)(13)(A), 1951(b)(7)(A), , 1775, 1834, 1838; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , , related to installment method in general, installment method for dealers in personal property, and gain or loss dispositions of installment obligations, prior to repeal by , , . See sections 453A and 453B of this title.
Amendments
Pub. L. 108–3572004—Subsec. (f)(4)(B). struck out “is issued by a corporation or a government or political subdivision thereof and” before “is readily tradable”.
Pub. L. 106–573Pub. L. 106–170, § 536(a)2000—Subsecs. (a), (d)(1), (i)(1), (k). repealed . See 1999 Amendment notes below.
Pub. L. 106–170, § 536(a)(1)Accrual method taxpayerlPub. L. 106–573, § 2(a)1999—Subsec. (a). , which substituted “Use of installment method” for “General rule” in subsec. heading, designated existing provisions as par. (1) and inserted heading, and added heading and text of par. (2), text of which read as follows: “(2) .—The installment method shall not apply to income from an installment sale if such income would be reported under an accrual method of accounting without regard to this section. The preceding sentence shall not apply to a disposition described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of subsection ()(2).”, was repealed by . See Effective Date and Construction of 2000 Amendment note below.
Pub. L. 106–170, § 536(a)(2)Pub. L. 106–573Subsecs. (d)(1), (i)(1), (k). , which substituted “(a)(1)” for “(a)” wherever appearing, was repealed by . See Effective Date and Construction of 2000 Amendment note below.
Pub. L. 100–647, § 1018(u)(25)1988—Subsec. (f)(1). , substituted “subsections (g)” for “subsection (g)”.
Pub. L. 100–647, § 1018(u)(26)Subsec. (f)(8). , substituted “payments to be” for “payment to be”.
Pub. L. 100–647, § 1006(i)(2)(B)Subsec. (g)(1). , struck out “(within the meaning of section 1239(b))” after “between related persons”.
Pub. L. 100–647, § 1006(i)(1), added subpars. (A) to (C) and struck out former subpars. (A) and (B) which read as follows:
“(A) subsection (a) shall not apply, and
“(B) for purposes of this title—
“(i) except as provided in clause (ii), all payments to be received shall be treated as received in the year of the disposition, and
“(ii) in the case of any payments which are contingent as to amount but with respect to which the fair market value may not be reasonably ascertained—
“(I) the basis shall be recovered ratably, and
“(II) the purchaser may not increase the basis of any property acquired in such sale by any amount before such time as the seller includes such amount in income.”
Pub. L. 100–647, § 1006(i)(2)(A)Subsec. (g)(3). , added par. (3).
Pub. L. 100–647, § 1006(e)(7)(A)Subsec. (h)(1)(B). , substituted “to 1 person in 1 transaction” for “to one person” in concluding provisions.
Pub. L. 100–647, § 1006(e)(7)(B)Subsec. (h)(1)(E). , substituted “section 368(c)” for “section 368(c)(1)”.
Pub. L. 100–647, § 1008(g)(1)Subsec. (j). , redesignated subsec. (j), relating to current inclusion in case of revolving credit plans, etc., as (k).
Pub. L. 100–647, § 2004(d)(5)Subsec. (k). , struck out “and section 453A” after “subsection (a)” in second sentence.
Pub. L. 100–647, § 1008(g)(1), redesignated subsec. (j), relating to current inclusion in case of revolving credit plans, etc., as (k).
lPub. L. 100–647, § 2004(d)(1)Subsec. ()(1)(A). , inserted “of the same type” after “disposes of personal property”.
Pub. L. 100–203, § 10202(b)(1)1987—Subsec. (b)(2)(A). , substituted “Dealer dispositions” for “Dealer disposition of personal property” in heading and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “A disposition of personal property on the installment plan by a person who regularly sells or otherwise disposes of personal property on the installment plan.”
lPub. L. 100–203, § 10202(b)(2)lSubsec. (). , added subsec. ().
Pub. L. 99–514, § 642(a)(3)1986—Subsec. (f)(1). , amended par. (1) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (1) read as follows: “Except for purposes of subsections (g) and (h), the term ‘related person’ means a person whose stock would be attributed under section 318(a) (other than paragraph (4) thereof) to the person first disposing of the property.”
Pub. L. 99–514, § 642(b)(1)Subsec. (f)(8). , added par. (8).
Pub. L. 99–514, § 642(a)(1)(D)Subsec. (g). , substituted “controlled entity” for “80-percent owned entity” in heading.
Pub. L. 99–514, § 642(b)(2)Subsec. (g)(1). , amended par. (1) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (1) read as follows: “In the case of an installment sale of depreciable property between related persons within the meaning of section 1239(b), subsection (a) shall not apply, and, for purposes of this title, all payments to be received shall be deemed received in the year of the disposition.”
Pub. L. 99–514, § 631(e)(8)(C)Subsec. (h). , substituted “certain liquidations” for “section 337 liquidations” in heading.
Pub. L. 99–514, § 631(e)(8)(A)Subsec. (h)(1)(A). , amended subpar. (A) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (A) read as follows: “If, in connection with a liquidation to which section 337 applies, in a transaction to which section 331 applies the shareholder receives (in exchange for the shareholder’s stock) an installment obligation acquired in respect of a sale or exchange by the corporation during the 12-month period set forth in section 337(a), then, for purposes of this section, the receipt of payments under such obligation (but not the receipt of such obligation) by the shareholder shall be treated as the receipt of payment for the stock.”
Pub. L. 99–514, § 631(e)(8)(A)Subsec. (h)(1)(B). , amended subpar. (B) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (B) read as follows: “Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to an installment obligation described in section 337(b)(1)(B) unless such obligation is also described in section 337(b)(2)(B).”
Pub. L. 99–514, § 631(e)(8)(B)Subsec. (h)(1)(E). , substituted “subsidiaries” for “subsidiary” in heading and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (E) read as follows: “For purposes of subparagraph (A), in any case to which section 337(c)(3) applies, an obligation acquired in respect of a sale or exchange by the selling corporation shall be treated as so acquired by the corporation distributing the obligation to the shareholder.”
Pub. L. 99–514, § 1809(c)Subsec. (i)(2). , substituted “section 1245 or 1250 (or so much of section 751 as relates to section 1245 or 1250)” for “section 1245 or 1250”.
Pub. L. 99–514, § 812(a)Subsec. (j). , added subsec. (j) relating to current inclusion in case of revolving credit plans, etc.
Pub. L. 98–369, § 421(b)(6)(C)1984—Subsec. (g). , struck out “spouse or” after “property to” in heading.
Pub. L. 98–369, § 421(b)(6)(B)Subsec. (h)(1)(C). , inserted “married to each other or are”.
Pub. L. 98–369, § 112(a)Subsec. (i). , amended subsec. (i) generally, substituting provisions relating to recognition of recapture income in year of disposition for provisions relating to application of subsec. (a) in the case of an installment sale of section 179 property.
Pub. L. 97–4481983—Subsec. (f)(6)(C). inserted “, when used in any provision of this section other than subsection (b)(1),” after “the term ‘payment’ ”.
Pub. L. 97–341981—Subsecs. (i), (j). added subsec. (i) and redesignated former subsec. (i) as (j).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2004 Amendment
Pub. L. 108–357, title VIII, § 897(b)118 Stat. 1649
Effective Date and Construction of 2000 Amendment
Pub. L. 106–573, § 2114 Stat. 3061
In General .—
Applicability .—
Effective Date of 1999 Amendment
Pub. L. 106–170, title V, § 536(c)113 Stat. 1936
Effective Date of 1988 Amendment
Pub. L. 100–647Pub. L. 99–514section 1019(a) of Pub. L. 100–647section 1 of this titleAmendment by sections 1006(e)(7), (i)(1), (2), 1008(g)(1), and 1018(u)(25), (26) of effective, except as otherwise provided, as if included in the provision of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, , to which such amendment relates, see , set out as a note under .
Pub. L. 100–647Pub. L. 100–203, title Xsection 2004(u) of Pub. L. 100–647section 56 of this titleAmendment by section 2004(d)(1), (5) of effective, except as otherwise provided, as if included in the provisions of the Revenue Act of 1987, , to which such amendment relates, see , set out as a note under .
Effective Date of 1987 Amendment
Pub. L. 100–203, title X, § 10202(e)101 Stat. 1330–392Pub. L. 100–647, title II, § 2004(d)(3)102 Stat. 3599
In general .—
Special rules for dealers.—
In general .—
Special rules for obligations arising from dealer dispositions after , and before .—
In general .—
Change in method of accounting .—
Certain rules made applicable .—
Special rule for nondealers.—
Election .—
Pledging rules .—
In general .—
Coordination with section 453c .—
Certain dispositions deemed made on 1st day of taxable year .—
Minimum tax .—
Coordination with tax reform act of 1986 .—
Effective Date of 1986 Amendment
section 631(e)(8) of Pub. L. 99–514section 338 of this titlesection 633 of Pub. L. 99–514section 336 of this titleAmendment by applicable to any distribution in complete liquidation, and any sale or exchange, made by a corporation after , unless such corporation is completely liquidated before , any transaction described in for which the acquisition date occurs after , and any distribution, not in complete liquidation, made after , with exceptions and special and transitional rules, see , set out as an Effective Date note under .
Pub. L. 99–514section 642(c) of Pub. L. 99–514section 1239 of this titleAmendment by section 642(a)(1)(D), (3), (b) of applicable to sales after , in taxable years ending after such date, but not applicable to sales made after , which are made pursuant to a binding contract in effect on , and at all times thereafter, see , set out as a note under .
Pub. L. 99–514, title VIII, § 812(c)100 Stat. 2372Pub. L. 100–647, title I, § 1008(g)(3)102 Stat. 3443
In general .—
Sales of stock, etc .—
Change in method of accounting .—
“In the case of the: | The applicable percentage is: |
|---|---|
1st taxable year | 15 |
2nd taxable year | 25 |
3rd taxable year | 30 |
4th taxable year | 30. |
Acceleration of adjustments where contraction in amount of installment obligations.—
In general .—
Determination of percentage .—
Aggregate contraction in revolving installment obligations .—
Revolving installment obligations .—
Treatment of certain obligations disposed of on or before .—
Limitation on losses from sales of obligations under revolving credit plans .—
Adjustment period .—
section 1809(c) of Pub. L. 99–514Pub. L. 98–369, div. Asection 1881 of Pub. L. 99–514section 48 of this titleAmendment by effective, except as otherwise provided, as if included in the provisions of the Tax Reform Act of 1984, , to which such amendment relates, see , set out as a note under .
Effective Date of 1984 Amendment
Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title I, § 112(b)98 Stat. 635
In general .—
Exception .—
Special rule for certain dispositions before .—
Pub. L. 98–369section 421(d) of Pub. L. 98–369section 1041 of this titleAmendment by section 421(b)(6)(B), (C) of applicable to transfers after , in taxable years ending after such date, subject to election to have amendment apply to transfers after 1983 or to transfers pursuant to existing decrees, see , set out as an Effective Date note under .
Effective Date of 1983 Amendment
Pub. L. 97–448, title III, § 311(a)96 Stat. 2411
Effective Date of 1981 Amendment
Pub. L. 97–34section 209(a) of Pub. L. 97–34section 168 of this titleAmendment by applicable to property placed in service after , in taxable years ending after that date, see , set out as an Effective Date note under .
Effective Date; Application of Former Section 453(b) to Certain Dispositions
Pub. L. 96–471, § 6(a)94 Stat. 2256Pub. L. 99–514, § 2100 Stat. 2095
In general .—
For section 453 (e).—
For section 453 (h).—
For section 453 a.—
For section 453 b(f).—
For section 2 (c).—
Special rule for application of former section 453 to certain dispositions .—
Plan Amendments Not Required Until January 1, 1989
Pub. L. 99–514section 1140 of Pub. L. 99–514section 401 of this titleFor 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 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 , see , as amended, set out as a note under .