Subpart C—Discount on Short-Term Obligations
§1281. Current inclusion in income of discount on certain short-term obligations
(a) General rule
In the case of any short-term obligation to which this section applies, for purposes of this title—
(1) there shall be included in the gross income of the holder an amount equal to the sum of the daily portions of the acquisition discount for each day during the taxable year on which such holder held such obligation, and
(2) any interest payable on the obligation (other than interest taken into account in determining the amount of the acquisition discount) shall be included in gross income as it accrues.
(b) Short-term obligations to which section applies
(1) In general
This section shall apply to any short-term obligation which—
(A) is held by a taxpayer using an accrual method of accounting,
(B) is held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of the taxpayer's trade or business,
(C) is held by a bank (as defined in section 581),
(D) is held by a regulated investment company or a common trust fund,
(E) is identified by the taxpayer under section 1256(e)(2) as being part of a hedging transaction, or
(F) is a stripped bond or stripped coupon held by the person who stripped the bond or coupon (or by any other person whose basis is determined by reference to the basis in the hands of such person).
(2) Treatment of obligations held by pass-thru entities
(A) In general
This section shall apply also to—
(i) any short-term obligation which is held by a pass-thru entity which is formed or availed of for purposes of avoiding the provisions of this section, and
(ii) any short-term obligation which is acquired by a pass-thru entity (not described in clause (i)) during the required accrual period.
(B) Required accrual period
For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term "required accrual period" means the period—
(i) which begins with the first taxable year for which the ownership test of subparagraph (C) is met with respect to the pass-thru entity (or a predecessor), and
(ii) which ends with the first taxable year after the taxable year referred to in clause (i) for which the ownership test of subparagraph (C) is not met and with respect to which the Secretary consents to the termination of the required accrual period.
(C) Ownership test
The ownership test of this subparagraph is met for any taxable year if, on at least 90 days during the taxable year, 20 percent or more of the value of the interests in the pass-thru entity are held by persons described in paragraph (1) or by other pass-thru entities to which subparagraph (A) applies.
(D) Pass-thru entity
The term "pass-thru entity" means any partnership, S corporation, trust, or other pass-thru entity.
(c) Cross reference
For special rules limiting the application of this section to original issue discount in the case of nongovernmental obligations, see section 1283(c).
(Added
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1986—Subsec. (a).
Subsec. (b)(1)(F).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1986 Amendment
Amendment by section 1803(a)(7) of
Section 1803(a)(8)(A) of
Effective Date
Section applicable to taxable years ending after July 18, 1984, and applicable to obligations acquired after that date, with certain elections available, see section 44 of
Plan Amendments Not Required Until January 1, 1989
For 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
§1282. Deferral of interest deduction allocable to accrued discount
(a) General rule
Except as otherwise provided in this section, the net direct interest expense with respect to any short-term obligation shall be allowed as a deduction for the taxable year only to the extent such expense exceeds the sum of—
(1) the daily portions of the acquisition discount for each day during the taxable year on which the taxpayer held such obligation, and
(2) the amount of any interest payable on the obligation (other than interest taken into account in determining the amount of the acquisition discount) which accrues during the taxable year while the taxpayer held such obligation (and is not included in the gross income of the taxpayer for such taxable year by reason of the taxpayer's method of accounting).
(b) Section not to apply to obligations to which section 1281 applies
(1) In general
This section shall not apply to any short-term obligation to which section 1281 applies.
(2) Election to have section 1281 apply to all obligations
(A) In general
A taxpayer may make an election under this paragraph to have section 1281 apply to all short-term obligations acquired by the taxpayer on or after the 1st day of the 1st taxable year to which such election applies.
(B) Period to which election applies
An election under this paragraph shall apply to the taxable year for which it is made and for all subsequent taxable years, unless the taxpayer secures the consent of the Secretary to the revocation of such election.
(c) Certain rules made applicable
Rules similar to the rules of subsections (b) and (c) of section 1277 shall apply for purposes of this section.
(d) Cross reference
For special rules limiting the application of this section to original issue discount in the case of nongovernmental obligations, see section 1283(c).
(Added
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1986—Subsec. (a).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1986 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date
Section applicable to taxable years ending after July 18, 1984, and to obligations acquired after that date, see section 44 of
Plan Amendments Not Required Until January 1, 1989
For 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
§1283. Definitions and special rules
(a) Definitions
For purposes of this subpart—
(1) Short-term obligation
(A) In general
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the term "short-term obligation" means any bond, debenture, note, certificate, or other evidence of indebtedness which has a fixed maturity date not more than 1 year from the date of issue.
(B) Exceptions for tax-exempt obligations
The term "short-term obligation" shall not include any tax-exempt obligation (as defined in section 1275(a)(3)).
(2) Acquisition discount
The term "acquisition discount" means the excess of—
(A) the stated redemption price at maturity (as defined in section 1273), over
(B) the taxpayer's basis for the obligation.
(b) Daily portion
For purposes of this subpart—
(1) Ratable accrual
Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the daily portion of the acquisition discount is an amount equal to—
(A) the amount of such discount, divided by
(B) the number of days after the day on which the taxpayer acquired the obligation and up to (and including) the day of its maturity.
(2) Election of accrual on basis of constant interest rate (in lieu of ratable accrual)
(A) In general
At the election of the taxpayer with respect to any obligation, the daily portion of the acquisition discount for any day is the portion of the acquisition discount accruing on such day determined (under regulations prescribed by the Secretary) on the basis of—
(i) the taxpayer's yield to maturity based on the taxpayer's cost of acquiring the obligation, and
(ii) compounding daily.
(B) Election irrevocable
An election under subparagraph (A), once made with respect to any obligation, shall be irrevocable.
(c) Special rules for nongovernmental obligations
(1) In general
In the case of any short-term obligation which is not a short-term Government obligation (as defined in section 1271(a)(3)(B))—
(A) sections 1281 and 1282 shall be applied by taking into account original issue discount in lieu of acquisition discount, and
(B) appropriate adjustments shall be made in the application of subsection (b) of this section.
(2) Election to have paragraph (1) not apply
(A) In general
A taxpayer may make an election under this paragraph to have paragraph (1) not apply to all obligations acquired by the taxpayer on or after the first day of the first taxable year to which such election applies.
(B) Period to which election applies
An election under this paragraph shall apply to the taxable year for which it is made and for all subsequent taxable years, unless the taxpayer secures the consent of the Secretary to the revocation of such election.
(d) Other special rules
(1) Basis adjustments
The basis of any short-term obligation in the hands of the holder thereof shall be increased by the amount included in his gross income pursuant to section 1281.
(2) Double inclusion in income not required
Section 1281 shall not require the inclusion of any amount previously includible in gross income.
(3) Coordination with other provisions
Section 454(b) and paragraphs (3) and (4) of section 1271(a) shall not apply to any short-term obligation to which section 1281 applies.
(Added
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1986—Subsec. (d)(3).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1986 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date
Section applicable to taxable years ending after July 18, 1984, and to obligations acquired after that date, see section 44 of
Plan Amendments Not Required Until January 1, 1989
For 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