5-year deferral; 10-year installment payment
In general
If the value of an interest in a closely held business which is included in determining the gross estate of a decedent who was (at the date of his death) a citizen or resident of the United States exceeds 35 percent of the adjusted gross estate, the executor may elect to pay part or all of the tax imposed by section 2001 in 2 or more (but not exceeding 10) equal installments.
Limitation
Date for payment of installments
If an election is made under paragraph (1), the first installment shall be paid on or before the date selected by the executor which is not more than 5 years after the date prescribed by section 6151(a) for payment of the tax, and each succeeding installment shall be paid on or before the date which is 1 year after the date prescribed by this paragraph for payment of the preceding installment.
Definitions and special rules
Interest in closely held business
Rules for applying paragraph (1)
Time for testing
Determinations shall be made as of the time immediately before the decedent’s death.
Certain interests held by husband and wife
Indirect ownership
Property owned, directly or indirectly, by or for a corporation, partnership, estate, or trust shall be considered as being owned proportionately by or for its shareholders, partners, or beneficiaries. For purposes of the preceding sentence, a person shall be treated as a beneficiary of any trust only if such person has a present interest in the trust.
Certain interests held by members of decedent’s family
All stock and all partnership interests held by the decedent or by any member of his family (within the meaning of section 267(c)(4)) shall be treated as owned by the decedent.
Farmhouses and certain other structures taken into account
For purposes of the 35-percent requirement of subsection (a)(1), an interest in a closely held business which is the business of farming includes an interest in residential buildings and related improvements on the farm which are occupied on a regular basis by the owner or lessee of the farm or by persons employed by such owner or lessee for purposes of operating or maintaining the farm.
Value
For purposes of this section, value shall be value determined for purposes of chapter 11 (relating to estate tax).
Closely held business amount
For purposes of this section, the term “closely held business amount” means the value of the interest in a closely held business which qualifies under subsection (a)(1).
Adjusted gross estate
For purposes of this section, the term, “adjusted gross estate” means the value of the gross estate reduced by the sum of the amounts allowable as a deduction under section 2053 or 2054. Such sum shall be determined on the basis of the facts and circumstances in existence on the date (including extensions) for filing the return of tax imposed by section 2001 (or, if earlier, the date on which such return is filed).
Partnership interests and stock which is not readily tradable
In general
Non-readily-tradable stock defined
For purposes of this paragraph, the term “non-readily-tradable stock” means stock for which, at the time of the decedent’s death, there was no market on a stock exchange or in an over-the-counter market.
Stock in holding company treated as business company stock in certain cases
In general
Holding company stock treated as business company stock
For purposes of this section, the portion of the stock of any holding company which represents direct ownership (or indirect ownership through 1 or more other holding companies) by such company in a business company shall be deemed to be stock in such business company.
5-year deferral for principal not to apply
The executor shall be treated as having selected under subsection (a)(3) the date prescribed by section 6151(a).
2-percent interest rate not to apply
For purposes of applying section 6601(j), the 2-percent portion (as defined in such section) shall be treated as being zero.
All stock must be non-readily-tradable stock
In general
No stock shall be taken into account for purposes of applying this paragraph unless it is non-readily-tradable stock (within the meaning of paragraph (7)(B)).
Special application where only holding company stock is non-readily-tradable stock
If the requirements of clause (i) are not met, but all of the stock of each holding company taken into account is non-readily-tradable, then this paragraph shall apply, but subsection (a)(1) shall be applied by substituting “5” for “10”.
Application of voting stock requirement of paragraph (1)(C)(i)
For purposes of clause (i) of paragraph (1)(C), the deemed stock resulting from the application of subparagraph (A) shall be treated as voting stock to the extent that voting stock in the holding company owns directly (or through the voting stock of 1 or more other holding companies) voting stock in the business company.
Definitions
Holding company
The term “holding company” means any corporation holding stock in another corporation.
Business company
The term “business company” means any corporation carrying on a trade or business.
Deferral not available for passive assets
In general
For purposes of subsection (a)(1) and determining the closely held business amount (but not for purposes of subsection (g)), the value of any interest in a closely held business shall not include the value of that portion of such interest which is attributable to passive assets held by the business.
Passive asset defined
In general
The term “passive asset” means any asset other than an asset used in carrying on a trade or business.
Stock treated as passive asset
Exception for active corporations
Stock in qualifying lending and finance business treated as stock in an active trade or business company
In general
Stock in qualifying lending and finance business treated as stock in an active trade or business company
For purposes of this section, any asset used in a qualifying lending and finance business shall be treated as an asset which is used in carrying on a trade or business.
5-year deferral for principal not to apply
The executor shall be treated as having selected under subsection (a)(3) the date prescribed by section 6151(a).
5 equal installments allowed
For purposes of applying subsection (a)(1), “5” shall be substituted for “10”.
Definitions
Qualifying lending and finance business
Lending and finance business
Limitation
The term “qualifying lending and finance business” shall not include any interest in an entity, if the stock or debt of such entity or a controlled group (as defined in section 267(f)(1)) of which such entity was a member was readily tradable on an established securities market or secondary market (as defined by the Secretary) at any time within 3 years before the date of the decedent’s death.
Special rule for interest in 2 or more closely held businesses
For purposes of this section, interest in 2 or more closely held businesses, with respect to each of which there is included in determining the value of the decedent’s gross estate 20 percent or more of the total value of each such business, shall be treated as an interest in a single closely held business. For purposes of the 20-percent requirement of the preceding sentence, an interest in a closely held business which represents the surviving spouse’s interest in property held by the decedent and the surviving spouse as community property or as joint tenants, tenants by the entirety, or tenants in common shall be treated as having been included in determining the value of the decedent’s gross estate.
Election
Any election under subsection (a) shall be made not later than the time prescribed by section 6075(a) for filing the return of tax imposed by section 2001 (including extensions thereof), and shall be made in such manner as the Secretary shall by regulations prescribe. If an election under subsection (a) is made, the provisions of this subtitle shall apply as though the Secretary were extending the time for payment of the tax.
Proration of deficiency to installments
If an election is made under subsection (a) to pay any part of the tax imposed by section 2001 in installments and a deficiency has been assessed, the deficiency shall (subject to the limitation provided by subsection (a)(2)) be prorated to the installments payable under subsection (a). The part of the deficiency so prorated to any installment the date for payment of which has not arrived shall be collected at the same time as, and as a part of, such installment. The part of the deficiency so prorated to any installment the date for payment of which has arrived shall be paid upon notice and demand from the Secretary. This subsection shall not apply if the deficiency is due to negligence, to intentional disregard of rules and regulations, or to fraud with intent to evade tax.
Time for payment of interest
Interest for first 5 years
Interest payable under section 6601 of any unpaid portion of such amount attributable to the first 5 years after the date prescribed by section 6151(a) for payment of the tax shall be paid annually.
Interest for periods after first 5 years
Interest payable under section 6601 on any unpaid portion of such amount attributable to any period after the 5-year period referred to in paragraph (1) shall be paid annually at the same time as, and as a part of, each installment payment of the tax.
Interest in the case of certain deficiencies
In the case of a deficiency to which subsection (e) applies which is assessed after the close of the 5-year period referred to in paragraph (1), interest attributable to such 5-year period, and interest assigned under paragraph (2) to any installment the date for payment of which has arrived on or before the date of the assessment of the deficiency, shall be paid upon notice and demand from the Secretary.
Selection of shorter period
If the executor has selected a period shorter than 5 years under subsection (a)(3), such shorter period shall be substituted for 5 years in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of this subsection.
Acceleration of payment
Disposition of interest; withdrawal of funds from business
Changes in interest in holding company
Changes in interest in business company
Undistributed income of estate
Failure to make payment of principal or interest
In general
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), if any payment of principal or interest under this section is not paid on or before the date fixed for its payment by this section (including any extension of time), the unpaid portion of the tax payable in installments shall be paid upon notice and demand from the Secretary.
Payment within 6 months
Election in case of certain deficiencies
In general
Time of election
An election under this subsection shall be made not later than 60 days after issuance of notice and demand by the Secretary for the payment of the deficiency, and shall be made in such manner as the Secretary shall by regulations prescribe.
Effect of election on payment
If an election is made under this subsection, the deficiency shall (subject to the limitation provided by subsection (a)(2)) be prorated to the installments which would have been due if an election had been timely made under subsection (a) at the time the estate tax return was filed. The part of the deficiency so prorated to any installment the date for payment of which would have arrived shall be paid at the time of the making of the election under this subsection. The portion of the deficiency so prorated to installments the date for payment of which would not have so arrived shall be paid at the time such installments would have been due if such an election had been made.
Special rule for certain direct skips
To the extent that an interest in a closely held business is the subject of a direct skip (within the meaning of section 2612(c)) occurring at the same time as and as a result of the decedent’s death, then for purposes of this section any tax imposed by section 2601 on the transfer of such interest shall be treated as if it were additional tax imposed by section 2001.
Regulations
The Secretary shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to the application of this section.
Cross references
Security
For authority of the Secretary to require security in the case of an extension under this section, see section 6165.
Lien
For special lien (in lieu of bond) in the case of an extension under this section, see section 6324A.
Period of limitation
For extension of the period of limitation in the case of an extension under this section, see section 6503(d).
Interest
For provisions relating to interest on tax payable in installments under this section, see subsection (j) of section 6601.
Transfers within 3 years of death
For special rule for qualifying an estate under this section where property has been transferred within 3 years of decedent’s death, see section 2035(c)(2).
Pub. L. 94–455, title XX, § 2004(a)90 Stat. 1862Pub. L. 95–600, title V, § 512(a)92 Stat. 2882Pub. L. 97–34, title IV, § 422(a)95 Stat. 314–316Pub. L. 97–448, title I, § 104(c)96 Stat. 2382Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title V, § 544(b)(4)98 Stat. 894Pub. L. 99–514, title XIV, § 1432(e)100 Stat. 2730Pub. L. 104–188, title I, § 1704(t)(15)110 Stat. 1888Pub. L. 105–34, title V, § 503(c)(1)111 Stat. 853Pub. L. 105–206, title VI, § 6007(c)112 Stat. 809Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(7) [title III, § 319(18)]114 Stat. 2763Pub. L. 107–16, title V115 Stat. 92(Added , , ; amended , (b), , , 2883; , (c), (e)(5)(A), (B), , ; , (d)(1)(B), , , 2383; , title X, § 1021(a)–(d), , , 1024–1026; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , , 2763A–647; , §§ 571(a), 572(a), 573(a), , , 93.)
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
section 6166A of this titlePub. L. 97–34, title IV, § 422(d)95 Stat. 315A prior section 6166 was renumbered and later repealed by , , .
Amendments
Pub. L. 107–16, § 571(a)2001—Subsec. (b)(1)(B)(ii), (C)(ii). , substituted “45” for “15”.
Pub. L. 107–16, § 573(a)Subsec. (b)(8)(B). , reenacted heading without change and amended text of subpar. (B) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “No stock shall be taken into account for purposes of applying this paragraph unless it is non-readily-tradable stock (within the meaning of paragraph (7)(B)).”
Pub. L. 107–16, § 571(a)Subsec. (b)(9)(B)(iii)(I). , substituted “45” for “15”.
Pub. L. 107–16, § 572(a)Subsec. (b)(10). , added par. (10).
Pub. L. 106–5542000—Subsec. (k)(5). substituted “2035(c)(2)” for “2035(d)(4)”.
Pub. L. 105–206, § 6007(c)(1)1998—Subsec. (b)(7)(A)(iii). , amended cl. (iii) generally. Prior to amendment, cl. (iii) read as follows: “section 6601(j) (relating to 2-percent rate of interest) shall not apply.”
Pub. L. 105–206, § 6007(c)(2)Subsec. (b)(8)(A)(iii). , reenacted heading without change and amended text of cl. (iii) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “Section 6601(j) (relating to 2-percent rate of interest) shall not apply.”
Pub. L. 105–341997—Subsec. (b)(7)(A)(iii). substituted “2-percent” for “4-percent”.
Pub. L. 105–34Subsec. (b)(8)(A)(iii). substituted “2-percent” for “4-percent” in heading and text.
Pub. L. 104–188section 2210(c) of this title1996—Subsec. (k)(6). struck out par. (6) which provided cross reference to former authorizing payment of certain portion of estate tax in installments under provisions of this section.
Pub. L. 99–5141986—Subsecs. (i) to (k). added subsec. (i) and redesignated former subsecs. (i) and (j) as (j) and (k), respectively.
Pub. L. 98–369, § 1021(a)1984—Subsec. (b)(8). , added par. (8).
Pub. L. 98–369, § 1021(b)Subsec. (b)(9). , added par. (9).
Pub. L. 98–369, § 1021(c)Subsec. (g)(1)(E), (F). , added subpars. (E) and (F).
Pub. L. 98–369, § 1021(d)Subsec. (g)(2)(C). , added subpar. (C).
Pub. L. 98–369, § 544(b)(4)Subsec. (j)(6). , added par. (6).
Pub. L. 97–448, § 104(c)(1)1983—Subsec. (b)(3). , substituted “35-percent requirement” for “65-percent requirement”.
Pub. L. 97–448, § 104(c)(2)Subsec. (g)(1)(B)(i). , substituted “the redemption of such stock, and the withdrawal of money or other property distributed in such redemption, shall not be treated as a distribution or withdrawal for purposes of subparagraph (A), and” for “subparagraph (A)(i) does not apply with respect to the stock redeemed; and for purposes of such subparagraph the interest in the closely held business shall be considered to be such interest reduced by the value of the stock redeemed, and”.
Pub. L. 97–448, § 104(c)(2)Subsec. (g)(1)(B)(ii). , substituted “for purposes of subparagraph (A), the value of the interest in the closely held business shall be considered to be such value reduced by the value of the stock redeemed” for “subparagraph (A)(ii) does not apply with respect to withdrawals of money and other property distributed; and for purposes of such subparagraph the value of the trade or business shall be considered to be such value reduced by the amount of money and other property distributed”.
Pub. L. 97–448, § 104(d)(1)(B)Subsec. (j)(5). , added par. (5).
Pub. L. 97–34, § 422(e)(5)(B)1981—, substituted “Extension of time” for “Alternate extension of time” in section catchline.
Pub. L. 97–34, § 422(a)(1)Subsec. (a). , (e)(5)(A), substituted in par. (1) “35 percent” for “65 percent” and struck out par. (4) which provided that no election be made under this section by the executor of the estate of any decedent if an election under section 6166A applies with respect to the estate of such decedent.
Pub. L. 97–34, § 422(a)(2)Subsec. (c). , substituted “20 percent or more” for “more than 20 percent”.
Pub. L. 97–34, § 422(c)(1)Subsec. (g)(1)(A). , redesignated cl. (i) as cl. (i)(I), substituted “any portion” for “one-third or more in value”, added cl. (i)(II), substituted in cl. (ii) “the aggregate of such distributions, sales, exchanges, or other dispositions and withdrawals equals or exceeds 50 percent of the value of such interest” for “aggregate withdrawals of money and other property from the trade or business, an interest in which qualifies under subsection (a)(1), made with respect to such interest, equal or exceed one-third of the value of such trade or business” and in provision following cl. (ii) substituted “the unpaid portion” for “any unpaid portion”.
Pub. L. 97–34, § 422(c)(3)Subsec. (g)(1)(D). , inserted provision for application of a similar rule in the case of a series of subsequent transfers of the property by reason of death so long as each transfer is to a member of the family of the transferor in such transfer.
Pub. L. 97–34, § 422(c)(2)Subsec. (g)(3). , substituted as heading “Failure to make payment of principal or interest” for “Failure to pay installment”, designated existing provisions as subpar. (A), and in subpar. (A) as so designated, substituted “Except as provided in subparagraph (B), if any payment of principal or interest” for “If any installment” and “extension of time” for “extension of time for the payment of such installment”, and added subpar. (B).
Pub. L. 95–600, § 512(a)1978—Subsec. (b)(2)(D). , added subpar. (D).
Pub. L. 95–600, § 512(b)Subsec. (b)(7). , added par. (7).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2001 Amendment
Pub. L. 107–16, title V, § 571(b)115 Stat. 92
Pub. L. 107–16, title V, § 572(b)115 Stat. 93
Pub. L. 107–16, title V, § 573(b)115 Stat. 93
Effective Date of 1998 Amendment
Pub. L. 105–206Pub. L. 105–34section 6024 of Pub. L. 105–206section 1 of this titleAmendment by effective, except as otherwise provided, as if included in the provisions of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, , to which such amendment relates, see , set out as a note under .
Effective Date of 1997 Amendment
Pub. L. 105–34section 6166 of this titlesection 503(d) of Pub. L. 105–34section 163 of this titleAmendment by applicable to estates of decedents dying after , with special rule in case of estate of any decedent dying before , with respect to which there is an election under , see , set out as a note under .
Effective Date of 1986 Amendment
Pub. L. 99–514section 2611 of this titlesection 1433 of Pub. L. 99–514section 2601 of this titleAmendment by applicable to generation-skipping transfers (within the meaning of ) made after , except as otherwise provided, see , set out as an Effective Date note under .
Effective Date of 1984 Amendment
section 544(b)(4) of Pub. L. 98–369section 544(d) of Pub. L. 98–369section 2002 of this titleAmendment by applicable to estates of decedents which are required to file returns on a date (including any extensions) after , see , set out as a note under .
Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title X, § 1021(e)98 Stat. 1026Pub. L. 99–514, § 2100 Stat. 2095
In general .—
Special rule.—
In general .—
Effect of election .—
Effective Date of 1983 Amendment
Pub. L. 97–448Pub. L. 97–34section 109 of Pub. L. 97–448section 1 of this titleAmendment by effective, except as otherwise provided, as if it had been included in the provision of the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981, , to which such amendment relates, see , set out as a note under .
Effective Date of 1981 Amendment
Pub. L. 97–34, title IV, § 422(f)95 Stat. 316
In general .—
Acceleration by reason of subsequent death .—
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Pub. L. 95–600, title V, § 512(c)92 Stat. 2883
Effective Date
Pub. L. 94–455, title XX, § 2004(g)90 Stat. 1872
Land Diverted Under 1983 Payment-in-Kind Program
section 3 of Pub. L. 98–4section 61 of this titleLand diverted from production of agricultural commodities under a 1983 payment-in-kind program to be treated, for purposes of this section, as used during the 1983 crop year by qualified taxpayers in the active conduct of the trade or business of farming, with qualified taxpayers who materially participate in the diversion and devotion to conservation uses under a 1983 payment-in-kind program to be treated as materially participating in the operation of such land during the 1983 crop year, see , set out as a note under .