Direct and indirect ownership
General rule
Stock ownership through foreign entities
For purposes of subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1), stock owned, directly or indirectly, by or for a foreign corporation, foreign partnership, or foreign trust or foreign estate (within the meaning of section 7701(a)(31)) shall be considered as being owned proportionately by its shareholders, partners, or beneficiaries. Stock considered to be owned by a person by reason of the application of the preceding sentence shall, for purposes of applying such sentence, be treated as actually owned by such person.
Special rule for mutual insurance companies
For purposes of applying paragraph (1) in the case of a foreign mutual insurance company, the term “stock” shall include any certificate entitling the holder to voting power in the corporation.
Constructive ownership
Pub. L. 87–834, § 12(a)76 Stat. 1018Pub. L. 88–554, § 4(b)(5)78 Stat. 763Pub. L. 94–455, title X, § 1021(b)90 Stat. 1619Pub. L. 104–188, title I110 Stat. 1876Pub. L. 115–97, title I131 Stat. 2217Pub. L. 119–21, title VII, § 70353(a)139 Stat. 209(Added , , ; amended , , ; , , ; , §§ 1703(i)(4), 1704(t)(7), , , 1887; , §§ 14213(a), 14301(c)(31), , , 2224; , , .)
Editorial Notes
Amendments
Pub. L. 119–21, § 70353(a)(2)2025—Subsec. (b). , substituted “Paragraphs (1) and (4)” for “Paragraph (1)” in concluding provisions.
Pub. L. 119–21, § 70353(a)(1)Subsec. (b)(4). , added par. (4).
Pub. L. 115–97, § 14301(c)(31)2017—Subsec. (a)(1). , substituted “960” for “960(a)(1)” in introductory provisions.
Pub. L. 115–97, § 14213(a)(2)Subsec. (b). , substituted “Paragraph (1)” for “Paragraphs (1) and (4)” in concluding provisions.
Pub. L. 115–97, § 14213(a)(1)Subsec. (b)(4). , struck out par. (4) which read as follows: “Subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of section 318(a)(3) shall not be applied so as to consider a United States person as owning stock which is owned by a person who is not a United States person.”
Pub. L. 104–188, § 1704(t)(7)1996—Subsec. (a)(1). , substituted “section 960(a)(1)” for “sections 955(b)(1)(A) and (B), 955(c)(2)(A)(ii), and 960(a)(1)” in introductory provisions.
Pub. L. 104–188, § 1703(i)(4)Subsec. (b). , substituted “956(c)(2)” for “956(b)(2)” wherever appearing in introductory and closing provisions.
Pub. L. 94–4551976—Subsec. (b). inserted “956(b)(2)” after “purposes of sections 951(b), 954(d)(3),”, “to treat the stock of a domestic corporation as owned by a United States shareholder of the controlled foreign corporation for purposes of section 956(b)(2)” after “meaning of section 954(d)(3)” and “Paragraphs (1) and (4) shall not apply for purposes of section 956(b)(2) to treat stock of a domestic corporation as not owned by a United States shareholder” following subpar. (4).
Pub. L. 88–554section 318(a)(2) of this titlesection 318 of this titlePub. L. 88–5541964—Subsec. (b). redesignated pars. (4) and (5) as (3) and (4), respectively, struck out former par. (3) which related to ownership of stock by a partnership, estate, trust, or corporation for purposes of applying first sentence of subpars. (A) and (B), and subpar. (C)(i) of , and made amendments throughout subsec. (b) to conform to changes made in by .
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2025 Amendment
Pub. L. 119–21section 70353(d) of Pub. L. 119–21section 951B of this titleAmendment by applicable to taxable years of foreign corporations beginning after , see , set out as an Effective Date note under .
Effective Date of 2017 Amendment
Pub. L. 115–97, title I, § 14213(b)131 Stat. 2217
section 14301(c)(31) of Pub. L. 115–97section 14301(d) of Pub. L. 115–97section 78 of this titleAmendment by applicable to taxable years of foreign corporations beginning after , and to taxable years of United States shareholders in which or with which such taxable years of foreign corporations end, see , set out as a note under .
Effective Date of 1996 Amendment
section 1703(i)(4) of Pub. L. 104–188Pub. L. 103–66oPub. L. 104–188section 39 of this titleAmendment by effective as if included in the provision of the Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1993, , §§ 13001–13444, to which such amendment relates, see section 1703() of , set out as a note under .
Effective Date of 1976 Amendment
Pub. L. 94–455section 1021(c) of Pub. L. 94–455section 956 of this titleAmendment by applicable to taxable years of foreign corporations beginning after , and to taxable years of United States shareholders within which or with which such taxable years of such corporations end, see , set out as a note under .
Effective Date of 1964 Amendment
Pub. L. 88–554section 4(c) of Pub. L. 88–554section 318 of this titleAmendment by effective , except that for purposes of sections 302 and 304 of this title, such amendments shall not apply to distributions in payment for stock acquisitions or redemptions, if such acquisitions or redemptions occurred before , see , set out as a note under .
Construction
Pub. L. 119–21section 70353(f) of Pub. L. 119–21section 951B of this titleAmendment by not to be construed to create any inference with respect to the proper application of any provision of this title with respect to taxable years beginning before the taxable years to which such amendment applies, see , set out as a note under .