26 U.S.C. § 174 : Internal Revenue Code — Income Taxes — Normal Taxes And Surtaxes — Computation Of Taxable Income — Itemized Deductions For Individuals And Corporations — Research And Experimental Expenditures

  • Date:

(a) Treatment as expenses


(1) In general

A taxpayer may treat research or experimental expenditures which are paid or incurred by him during the taxable year in connection with his trade or business as expenses which are not chargeable to capital account. The expenditures so treated shall be allowed as a deduction.


(2) When method may be adopted


(A) Without consent

A taxpayer may, without the consent of the Secretary, adopt the method provided in this subsection for his first taxable year for which expenditures described in paragraph (1) are paid or incurred.


(B) With consent

A taxpayer may, with the consent of the Secretary, adopt at any time the method provided in this subsection.


(3) Scope

The method adopted under this subsection shall apply to all expenditures described in paragraph (1). The method adopted shall be adhered to in computing taxable income for the taxable year and for all subsequent taxable years unless, with the approval of the Secretary, a change to a different method is authorized with respect to part or all of such expenditures.


(b) Amortization of certain research and experimental expenditures


(1) In general

At the election of the taxpayer, made in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary, research or experimental expenditures which are—
(A) paid or incurred by the taxpayer in connection with his trade or business,
(B) not treated as expenses under subsection (a), and
(C) chargeable to capital account but not chargeable to property of a character which is subject to the allowance under section 167 (relating to allowance for depreciation, etc.) or section 611 (relating to allowance for depletion),
may be treated as deferred expenses. In computing taxable income, such deferred expenses shall be allowed as a deduction ratably over such period of not less than 60 months as may be selected by the taxpayer (beginning with the month in which the taxpayer first realizes benefits from such expenditures). Such deferred expenses are expenditures properly chargeable to capital account for purposes of section 1016(a)(1) (relating to adjustments to basis of property).


(2) Time for and scope of election

The election provided by paragraph (1) may be made for any taxable year, but only if made not later than the time prescribed by law for filing the return for such taxable year (including extensions thereof). The method so elected, and the period selected by the taxpayer, shall be adhered to in computing taxable income for the taxable year for which the election is made and for all subsequent taxable years unless, with the approval of the Secretary, a change to a different method (or to a different period) is authorized with respect to part or all of such expenditures. The election shall not apply to any expenditure paid or incurred during any taxable year before the taxable year for which the taxpayer makes the election.


(c) Land and other property

This section shall not apply to any expenditure for the acquisition or improvement of land, or for the acquisition or improvement of property to be used in connection with the research or experimentation and of a character which is subject to the allowance under section 167 (relating to allowance for depreciation, etc.) or section 611 (relating to allowance for depletion); but for purposes of this section allowances under section 167, and allowances under section 611, shall be considered as expenditures.


(d) Exploration expenditures

This section shall not apply to any expenditure paid or incurred for the purpose of ascertaining the existence, location, extent, or quality of any deposit of ore or other mineral (including oil and gas).


(e) Only reasonable research expenditures eligible

This section shall apply to a research or experimental expenditure only to the extent that the amount thereof is reasonable under the circumstances.


(f) Cross references

(1) For adjustments to basis of property for amounts allowed as deductions as deferred expenses under subsection (b), see section 1016(a)(14).

(2) For election of 10-year amortization of expenditures allowable as a deduction under subsection (a), see section 59(e).

(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 66; Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, §§ 1901(a)(30), 1906(b)(13)(A), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1769, 1834; Pub. L. 97–248, title II, § 201(d)(9)(B) formerly § 201(c)(9)(B), Sept. 3, 1982, 96 Stat. 420, renumbered § 201(d)(9)(B), Pub. L. 97–448, title III, § 306(a)(1)(A)(i), Jan. 12, 1983, 96 Stat. 2400; amended Pub. L. 99–514, title VII, § 701(e)(4)(D), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2343; Pub. L. 100–647, title I, § 1007(g)(5), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3435; Pub. L. 101–239, title VII, § 7110(d), Dec. 19, 1989, 103 Stat. 2325; Pub. L. 113–295, div. A, title II, § 221(a)(31), (32), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 4042.)


Amendments

2014—Subsec. (a)(2)(A). Pub. L. 113–295, § 221(a)(31), amended subpar. (A) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “A taxpayer may, without the consent of the Secretary, adopt the method provided in this subsection for his first taxable year—

“(i) which begins after December 31, 1953, and ends after August 16, 1954, and

“(ii) for which expenditures described in paragraph (1) are paid or incurred.”

Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 113–295, § 221(a)(32), struck out “beginning after December 31, 1953” after “for any taxable year”.

1989—Subsecs. (e), (f). Pub. L. 101–239 added subsec. (e) and redesignated former subsec. (e) as (f).

1988—Subsec. (e)(2). Pub. L. 100–647 substituted “section 59(e)” for “section 59(d)”.

1986—Subsec. (e)(2). Pub. L. 99–514 substituted “section 59(d)” for “section 58(i)”.

1982—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 97–248, § 201(d)(9)(B), substituted “Cross references” for “Cross reference” in heading, designated existing provisions as par. (1), and added par. (2).

1976—Subsec. (a)(2)(A). Pub. L. 94–455, § 1906(b)(13)(A), struck out “or his delegate” after “Secretary”.

Subsec. (a)(2)(A)(i). Pub. L. 94–455, § 1901(a)(30), substituted “August 16, 1954” for “the date on which this title is enacted” after “ends after”.

Subsecs. (a)(3), (b)(1), (2). Pub. L. 94–455, § 1906(b)(13)(A), struck out “or his delegate” after “Secretary”.


Effective Date of 2014 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 113–295 effective Dec. 19, 2014, subject to a savings provision, see section 221(b) of Pub. L. 113–295, set out as a note under section 1 of this title.


Effective Date of 1989 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 101–239 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1989, see section 7110(e) of Pub. L. 101–239, set out as a note under section 41 of this title.


Effective Date of 1988 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 100–647 effective, except as otherwise provided, as if included in the provision of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, Pub. L. 99–514, to which such amendment relates, see section 1019(a) of Pub. L. 100–647, set out as a note under section 1 of this title.


Effective Date of 1986 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 99–514 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1986, with certain exceptions and qualifications, see section 701(f) of Pub. L. 99–514, set out as an Effective Date note under section 55 of this title.


Effective Date of 1982 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 97–248 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1982, see section 201(e)(1) of Pub. L. 97–248, set out as a note under section 5 of this title.


Applicability of Certain Amendments by Pub. L. 99–514 in Relation to Treaty Obligations of United States

For applicability of amendment by Pub. L. 99–514 notwithstanding any treaty obligation of the United States in effect on Oct. 22, 1986, with provision that for such purposes any amendment by title I of Pub. L. 100–647 be treated as if it had been included in the provision of Pub. L. 99–514 to which such amendment relates, see section 1012(aa)(2), (4) of Pub. L. 100–647, set out as a note under section 861 of this title.


Allocation or Apportionment to Sources Within United States of Research and Experimental Expenditures Paid or Incurred for Research Activities Conducted in United States; 2-Year Program

Pub. L. 97–34, title II, § 223(a), Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 249, as amended by Pub. L. 99–514, § 2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2095, provided that:

“In the case of the taxpayer’s first 2 taxable years beginning within 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act [Aug. 13, 1981], all research and experimental expenditures (within the meaning of section 174 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [formerly I.R.C. 1954]) which are paid or incurred in such year for research activities conducted in the United States shall be allocated or apportioned to sources within the United States.”

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