Tap any paragraph to write a margin note. Your notes collect in the Desk below the text and file under cases with @. The side-by-side margin rail opens on a larger screen.

Code · U.S. Code · Title 26 - INTERNAL REVENUE CODE · CHAPTER 1— NORMAL TAXES AND SURTAXES · Subchapter E— Accounting Periods and Methods of Accounting · § 444

§ 444. Election of taxable year other than required taxable year

1,146 words·~5 min read·/usc/title-26/section-444

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

(a)General rule Except as otherwise provided in this section, a partnership, S corporation, or personal service corporation may elect to have a taxable year other than the required taxable year.
(b)Limitations on taxable years which may be elected
(1)In general Except as provided in paragraphs
(2)and (3), an election may be made under subsection
(a)only if the deferral period of the taxable year elected is not longer than 3 months.
(2)Changes in taxable year Except as provided in paragraph (3), in the case of an entity changing a taxable year, an election may be made under subsection
(a)only if the deferral period of the taxable year elected is not longer than the shorter of—
(A)3 months, or
(B)the deferral period of the taxable year which is being changed.
(3)Special rule for entities retaining 1986 taxable years In the case of an entity’s 1st taxable year beginning after December 31, 1986, an entity may elect a taxable year under subsection
(a)which is the same as the entity’s last taxable year beginning in 1986.
(4)Deferral period For purposes of this subsection, except as provided in regulations, the term “deferral period” means, with respect to any taxable year of the entity, the months between—
(A)the beginning of such year, and
(B)the close of the 1st required taxable year ending within such year.
(c)Effect of election If an entity makes an election under subsection (a), then—
(1)in the case of a partnership or S corporation, such entity shall make the payments required by section 7519, and
(2)in the case of a personal service corporation, such corporation shall be subject to the deduction limitations of section 280H.
(d)Elections
(1)Person making election An election under subsection
(a)shall be made by the partnership, S corporation, or personal service corporation.
(2)Period of election
(A)In general Any election under subsection
(a)shall remain in effect until the partnership, S corporation, or personal service corporation changes its taxable year or otherwise terminates such election. Any change to a required taxable year may be made without the consent of the Secretary.
(B)No further election If an election is terminated under subparagraph
(A)or paragraph (3)(A), the partnership, S corporation, or personal service corporation may not make another election under subsection (a).
(3)Tiered structures, etc.
(A)In general Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph—
(i)no election may be under subsection
(a)with respect to any entity which is part of a tiered structure, and
(ii)an election under subsection
(a)with respect to any entity shall be terminated if such entity becomes part of a tiered structure.
(B)Exceptions for structures consisting of certain entities with same taxable year Subparagraph
(A)shall not apply to any tiered structure which consists only of partnerships or S corporations (or both) all of which have the same taxable year.
(e)Required taxable year For purposes of this section, the term “required taxable year” means the taxable year determined under section 706(b), 1378, or 441(i) without taking into account any taxable year which is allowable by reason of business purposes. Solely for purposes of the preceding sentence, sections 706(b), 1378, and 441(i) shall be treated as in effect for taxable years beginning before January 1, 1987.
(f)Personal service corporation For purposes of this section, the term “personal service corporation” has the meaning given to such term by section 441(i)(2).
(g)Regulations The Secretary shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this section, including regulations to prevent the avoidance of subsection (b)(2)(B) or (d)(2)(B) through the change in form of an entity.
(Added Pub. L. 100–203, title X, § 10206(a)(1), Dec. 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 1330–397; amended Pub. L. 100–647, title II, § 2004(e)(1), (2)(A), (12), (13), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3600, 3602.)
Connections12 cite this · traces to 2
17 references not yet in our index
  • Pub. L. 100–203, title X, § 10206(a)(1)
  • 101 Stat. 1330–397
  • Pub. L. 100–647, title II, § 2004(e)(1)
  • 102 Stat. 3600
  • Pub. L. 100–647, § 2004(e)(1)(A)
  • Pub. L. 100–647, § 2004(e)(13)
  • Pub. L. 100–647, § 2004(e)(12)
  • Pub. L. 100–647, § 2004(e)(1)(C)
  • Pub. L. 100–647, § 2004(e)(1)(B)
  • Pub. L. 100–647, § 2004(e)(2)(A)
  • Pub. L. 100–647
  • Pub. L. 100–203, title X
  • section 2004(u) of Pub. L. 100–647
  • Pub. L. 100–203, title X, § 10206(d)
  • 101 Stat. 1330–403
  • Pub. L. 100–647, title II, § 2004(e)(11)
  • 102 Stat. 3602
Citation graph
cites case law
§ 444
Election of taxable year other than required taxable year
Stat.×7
Fed. Reg.×3
U.S.C.×2
Pub. L.Pub. L. 100–203, title X, § 10206(a)(1)
Stat.101 Stat. 1330–397
Pub. L.Pub. L. 100–647, title II, § 2004(e)(1)
Stat.102 Stat. 3600
Pub. L.Pub. L. 100–647, § 2004(e)(1)(A)
Cites 19 · showing 7Cited by 12 across 3 sources
★   the supreme law of the land   ★
Don't Tread on Me
E Pluribus Unum — out of many, one

"If you don't know your rights, you don't have any."

Marginalia · a citizen's law index
A research desk, not legal advice. Always read the cited source before relying on a summary.
Questions or an issue? support@self-law.org
disclaimerMarginalia is a research index, not a law firm. Nothing on this site is legal, tax, or financial advice and no attorney–client relationship is formed by using it. Statutes, regulations, and case law change; summaries, search results, AI output, and member posts may be incomplete, out of date, or wrong. Any interpretation drawn from material on this site should be validated by a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before you act on it.