(e) Active business requirement
(1) In general
For purposes of subsection (c)(2), the requirements of this subsection are met by a corporation for any period if during such period—
(A) at least 80 percent (by value) of the assets of such corporation are used by such corporation in the active conduct of 1 or more qualified trades or businesses, and
(B) such corporation is an eligible corporation.
(2) Special rule for certain activities
For purposes of paragraph (1), if, in connection with any future qualified trade or business, a corporation is engaged in—
(A) start-up activities described in section 195(c)(1)(A),
(B) activities resulting in the payment or incurring of expenditures which may be treated as research and experimental expenditures under section 174, or
(C) activities with respect to in-house research expenses described in section 41(b)(4),
assets used in such activities shall be treated as used in the active conduct of a qualified trade or business. Any determination under this paragraph shall be made without regard to whether a corporation has any gross income from such activities at the time of the determination.
(3) Qualified trade or business
For purposes of this subsection, the term “qualified trade or business” means any trade or business other than—
(A) any trade or business involving the performance of services in the fields of health, law, engineering, architecture, accounting, actuarial science, performing arts, consulting, athletics, financial services, brokerage services, or any trade or business where the principal asset of such trade or business is the reputation or skill of 1 or more of its employees,
(B) any banking, insurance, financing, leasing, investing, or similar business,
(C) any farming business (including the business of raising or harvesting trees),
(D) any business involving the production or extraction of products of a character with respect to which a deduction is allowable under section 613 or 613A, and
(E) any business of operating a hotel, motel, restaurant, or similar business.
(4) Eligible corporation
For purposes of this subsection, the term “eligible corporation” means any domestic corporation; except that such term shall not include—
(A) a DISC or former DISC,
(B) a corporation with respect to which an election under section 936 is in effect or which has a direct or indirect subsidiary with respect to which such an election is in effect,
(C) a regulated investment company, real estate investment trust, or REMIC, and
(5) Stock in other corporations
(A) Look-thru in case of subsidiaries
For purposes of this subsection, stock and debt in any subsidiary corporation shall be disregarded and the parent corporation shall be deemed to own its ratable share of the subsidiary’s assets, and to conduct its ratable share of the subsidiary’s activities.
(B) Portfolio stock or securities
A corporation shall be treated as failing to meet the requirements of paragraph (1) for any period during which more than 10 percent of the value of its assets (in excess of liabilities) consists of stock or securities in other corporations which are not subsidiaries of such corporation (other than assets described in paragraph (6)).
(C) Subsidiary
For purposes of this paragraph, a corporation shall be considered a subsidiary if the parent owns more than 50 percent of the combined voting power of all classes of stock entitled to vote, or more than 50 percent in value of all outstanding stock, of such corporation.
(6) Working capital
For purposes of paragraph (1)(A), any assets which—
(A) are held as a part of the reasonably required working capital needs of a qualified trade or business of the corporation, or
(B) are held for investment and are reasonably expected to be used within 2 years to finance research and experimentation in a qualified trade or business or increases in working capital needs of a qualified trade or business,
shall be treated as used in the active conduct of a qualified trade or business. For periods after the corporation has been in existence for at least 2 years, in no event may more than 50 percent of the assets of the corporation qualify as used in the active conduct of a qualified trade or business by reason of this paragraph.
(7) Maximum real estate holdings
A corporation shall not be treated as meeting the requirements of paragraph (1) for any period during which more than 10 percent of the total value of its assets consists of real property which is not used in the active conduct of a qualified trade or business. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the ownership of, dealing in, or renting of real property shall not be treated as the active conduct of a qualified trade or business.
(8) Computer software royalties
For purposes of paragraph (1), rights to computer software which produces active business computer software royalties (within the meaning of section 543(d)(1)) shall be treated as an asset used in the active conduct of a trade or business.
References in Text
The date of the enactment of this paragraph, referred to in subsec. (a)(2)(A), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 106–554, which was approved Dec. 21, 2000.
The date of the enactment of this paragraph, referred to in subsec. (a)(3), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 111–5, which was approved Feb. 17, 2009.
The date of the enactment of the Creating Small Business Jobs Act of 2010, referred to in subsec. (a)(3), (4), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 111–240, which was approved Sept. 27, 2010.
The date of the enactment of the Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1993, referred to in subsecs. (c)(1) and (d)(1)(A), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 103–66, which was approved Aug. 10, 1993.
Section 301(d) of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958, referred to in subsec. (c)(2)(B)(ii), was classified to section 681(d) of Title 15, Commerce and Trade, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 104–208, div. D, title II, § 208(b)(3)(A), Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009–742.
Prior Provisions
A prior section 1202, acts Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 320; Oct. 4, 1976, Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, § 1901(b)(33)(M), 90 Stat. 1802; Nov. 6, 1978, Pub. L. 95–600, title IV, § 402(a), 92 Stat. 2867; Apr. 1, 1980, Pub. L. 96–222, title I, § 104(a)(2)(A), 94 Stat. 214, authorized deduction for capital gains, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 99–514, title III, § 301(a), (c), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2216, 2218, applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1986.
Amendments
2015—Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 114–113 substituted “and thereafter” for “, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014” in heading and struck out “and before January 1, 2015” after “of the Creating Small Business Jobs Act of 2010” in introductory provisions.
2014—Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 113–295 substituted “2013, and 2014” for “and 2013” in heading and “January 1, 2015” for “January 1, 2014” in introductory provisions.
2013—Subsec. (a)(2)(C). Pub. L. 112–240, § 327(b), substituted “2018” for “2016” in heading and “December 31, 2018” for “December 31, 2016” in text.
Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 112–240, § 324(b)(1), inserted concluding provisions.
Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 112–240, § 324(b)(2), inserted concluding provisions.
Pub. L. 112–240, § 324(a), substituted “, 2011, 2012, and 2013” for “and 2011” in heading and “January 1, 2014” for “January 1, 2012” in introductory provisions.
2010—Subsec. (a)(2)(C). Pub. L. 111–312, § 753(b), substituted “2016” for “2014” in heading and “December 31, 2016” for “December 31, 2014” in text.
Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 111–240, § 2011(b), inserted “certain periods in” before “2010” in heading and substituted “on or before the date of the enactment of the Creating Small Business Jobs Act of 2010” for “before January 1, 2011” in text.
Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 111–312, § 760(a), inserted “and 2011” after “2010” in heading and substituted “January 1, 2012” for “January 1, 2011” in introductory provisions.
Pub. L. 111–240, § 2011(a), added par. (4).
2009—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 111–5 added par. (3).
2004—Subsec. (e)(4)(C). Pub. L. 108–357 substituted “or REMIC” for “REMIC, or FASIT”.
2000—Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(7) [title I, § 117(b)(2)], substituted “Partial” for “50-percent” in section catchline.
Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(7) [title I, § 117(a)], amended heading and text of subsec. (a) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “In the case of a taxpayer other than a corporation, gross income shall not include 50 percent of any gain from the sale or exchange of qualified small business stock held for more than 5 years.”
1996—Subsec. (e)(4)(C). Pub. L. 104–188 substituted “REMIC, or FASIT” for “or REMIC”.
Effective Date of 2015 Amendment
Pub. L. 114–113, div. Q, title I, § 126(b), Dec. 18, 2015, 129 Stat. 3054, provided that:
“The amendments made by this section [amending this section] shall apply to stock acquired after December 31, 2014.”
Effective Date of 2014 Amendment
Pub. L. 113–295, div. A, title I, § 136(b), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 4019, provided that:
“The amendments made by this section [amending this section] shall apply to stock acquired after December 31, 2013.”
Effective Date of 2013 Amendment
Pub. L. 112–240, title III, § 324(c), Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 2333, provided that:
“(1) In general.— The amendments made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply to stock acquired after December 31, 2011.
“(2) Subsection (b)(1).— The amendment made by subsection (b)(1) [amending this section] shall take effect as if included in section 1241(a) of division B of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 [Pub. L. 111–5].
“(3) Subsection (b)(2).— The amendment made by subsection (b)(2) [amending this section] shall take effect as if included in section 2011(a) of the Creating Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 [title II of Pub. L. 111–240].”
Pub. L. 112–240, title III, § 327(d), Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 2334, provided that:
“The amendments made by this section [amending this section and
section 1391 of this title] shall apply to periods after December 31, 2011.”
Effective Date of 2010 Amendment
Pub. L. 111–312, title VII, § 753(d), Dec. 17, 2010, 124 Stat. 3321, provided that:
“The amendments made by this section [amending this section and
section 1391 of this title] shall apply to periods after December 31, 2009.”
Pub. L. 111–312, title VII, § 760(b), Dec. 17, 2010, 124 Stat. 3323, provided that:
“The amendments made by this section [amending this section] shall apply to stock acquired after December 31, 2010.”
Pub. L. 111–240, title II, § 2011(c), Sept. 27, 2010, 124 Stat. 2554, provided that:
“The amendments made by this section [amending this section] shall apply to stock acquired after the date of the enactment of this Act [Sept. 27, 2010].”
Effective Date of 2009 Amendment
Pub. L. 111–5, div. B, title I, § 1241(b), Feb. 17, 2009, 123 Stat. 342, provided that:
“The amendment made by this section [amending this section] shall apply to stock acquired after the date of the enactment of this Act [Feb. 17, 2009].”
Effective Date of 2004 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 108–357 effective Jan. 1, 2005, with exception for any FASIT in existence on Oct. 22, 2004, to the extent that regular interests issued by the FASIT before such date continue to remain outstanding in accordance with the original terms of issuance, see section 835(c) of Pub. L. 108–357, set out as a note under section 56 of this title.
Effective Date of 2000 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 106–554 applicable to stock acquired after Dec. 21, 2000, see section 1(a)(7) [title I, § 117(c)] of Pub. L. 106–554, set out as a note under section 1 of this title.
Effective Date of 1996 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 104–188 effective Sept. 1, 1997, see section 1621(d) of Pub. L. 104–188, set out as a note under section 26 of this title.
Effective Date
Section applicable to stock issued after Aug. 10, 1993, see section 13113(e) of Pub. L. 103–66, set out as an Effective Date of 1993 Amendment note under section 53 of this title.