Passive activity losses and credits limited
Disallowance
In general
If for any taxable year the taxpayer is described in paragraph (2), neither—
the passive activity loss, nor
the passive activity credit,
for the taxable year shall be allowed.
Persons described
The following are described in this paragraph:
any individual, estate, or trust,
any closely held C corporation, and
any personal service corporation.
Disallowed loss or credit carried to next year
Passive activity defined
For purposes of this section—
In general
The term “passive activity” means any activity—
which involves the conduct of any trade or business, and
in which the taxpayer does not materially participate.
Passive activity includes any rental activity
Working interests in oil and gas property
In general
Income in subsequent years
Material participation not required for paragraphs (2) and (3)
Trade or business includes research and experimentation activity
Activity in connection with trade or business or production of income
To the extent provided in regulations, for purposes of paragraph (1)(A), the term “trade or business” includes—
any activity in connection with a trade or business, or
any activity with respect to which expenses are allowable as a deduction under section 212.
Special rules for taxpayers in real property business
In general
If this paragraph applies to any taxpayer for a taxable year—
paragraph (2) shall not apply to any rental real estate activity of such taxpayer for such taxable year, and
this section shall be applied as if each interest of the taxpayer in rental real estate were a separate activity.
Notwithstanding clause (ii), a taxpayer may elect to treat all interests in rental real estate as one activity. Nothing in the preceding provisions of this subparagraph shall be construed as affecting the determination of whether the taxpayer materially participates with respect to any interest in a limited partnership as a limited partner.
Taxpayers to whom paragraph applies
This paragraph shall apply to a taxpayer for a taxable year if—
more than one-half of the personal services performed in trades or businesses by the taxpayer during such taxable year are performed in real property trades or businesses in which the taxpayer materially participates, and
such taxpayer performs more than 750 hours of services during the taxable year in real property trades or businesses in which the taxpayer materially participates.
In the case of a joint return, the requirements of the preceding sentence are satisfied if and only if either spouse separately satisfies such requirements. For purposes of the preceding sentence, activities in which a spouse materially participates shall be determined under subsection (h).
Real property trade or business
Special rules for subparagraph (B)
Closely held C corporations
Personal services as an employee
Passive activity loss and credit defined
For purposes of this section—
Passive activity loss
The term “passive activity loss” means the amount (if any) by which—
the aggregate losses from all passive activities for the taxable year, exceed
the aggregate income from all passive activities for such year.
Passive activity credit
The term “passive activity credit” means the amount (if any) by which—
the sum of the credits from all passive activities allowable for the taxable year under—
subpart D of part IV of subchapter A, or
subpart B (other than section 27(a)) of such part IV, exceeds
the regular tax liability of the taxpayer for the taxable year allocable to all passive activities.
Special rules for determining income or loss from a passive activity
For purposes of this section—
Certain income not treated as income from passive activity
In determining the income or loss from any activity—
In general
There shall not be taken into account—
any—
gross income from interest, dividends, annuities, or royalties not derived in the ordinary course of a trade or business,
expenses (other than interest) which are clearly and directly allocable to such gross income, and
interest expense properly allocable to such gross income, and
gain or loss not derived in the ordinary course of a trade or business which is attributable to the disposition of property—
producing income of a type described in clause (i), or
held for investment.
For purposes of clause (ii), any interest in a passive activity shall not be treated as property held for investment.
Return on working capital
Passive losses of certain closely held corporations may offset active income
In general
If a closely held C corporation (other than a personal service corporation) has net active income for any taxable year, the passive activity loss of such taxpayer for such taxable year (determined without regard to this paragraph)—
shall be allowable as a deduction against net active income, and
shall not be taken into account under subsection (a) to the extent so allowable as a deduction.
A similar rule shall apply in the case of any passive activity credit of the taxpayer.
Net active income
For purposes of this paragraph, the term “net active income” means the taxable income of the taxpayer for the taxable year determined without regard to—
any income or loss from a passive activity, and
any item of gross income, expense, gain, or loss described in paragraph (1)(A).
Compensation for personal services
Dividends reduced by dividends received deduction
Treatment of former passive activities
For purposes of this section—
In general
If an activity is a former passive activity for any taxable year—
any unused deduction allocable to such activity under subsection (b) shall be offset against the income from such activity for the taxable year,
any unused credit allocable to such activity under subsection (b) shall be offset against the regular tax liability (computed after the application of paragraph (1)) allocable to such activity for the taxable year, and
any such deduction or credit remaining after the application of subparagraphs (A) and (B) shall continue to be treated as arising from a passive activity.
Change in status of closely held C corporation or personal service corporation
Former passive activity
The term “former passive activity” means any activity which, with respect to the taxpayer—
is not a passive activity for the taxable year, but
was a passive activity for any prior taxable year.
Dispositions of entire interest in passive activity
If during the taxable year a taxpayer disposes of his entire interest in any passive activity (or former passive activity), the following rules shall apply:
Fully taxable transaction
In general
If all gain or loss realized on such disposition is recognized, the excess of—
any loss from such activity for such taxable year (determined after the application of subsection (b)), over
any net income or gain for such taxable year from all other passive activities (determined after the application of subsection (b)),
shall be treated as a loss which is not from a passive activity.
Subparagraph (A) not to apply to disposition involving related party
Income from prior years
Disposition by death
If an interest in the activity is transferred by reason of the death of the taxpayer—
paragraph (1)(A) shall apply to losses described in paragraph (1)(A) to the extent such losses are greater than the excess (if any) of—
the basis of such property in the hands of the transferee, over
the adjusted basis of such property immediately before the death of the taxpayer, and
any losses to the extent of the excess described in subparagraph (A) shall not be allowed as a deduction for any taxable year.
Installment sale of entire interest
Material participation defined
For purposes of this section—
In general
A taxpayer shall be treated as materially participating in an activity only if the taxpayer is involved in the operations of the activity on a basis which is—
regular,
continuous, and
substantial.
Interests in limited partnerships
Treatment of certain retired individuals and surviving spouses
Certain closely held C corporations and personal service corporations
A closely held C corporation or personal service corporation shall be treated as materially participating in an activity only if—
1 or more shareholders holding stock representing more than 50 percent (by value) of the outstanding stock of such corporation materially participate in such activity, or
in the case of a closely held C corporation (other than a personal service corporation), the requirements of section 465(c)(7)(C) (without regard to clause (iv)) are met with respect to such activity.
Participation by spouse
$25,000 offset for rental real estate activities
In general
Dollar limitation
Phase-out of exemption
In general
Special phase-out of rehabilitation credit
Exception for commercial revitalization deduction
Exception for low-income housing credit
Ordering rules to reflect exceptions and separate phase-outs
If subparagraph (B), (C), or (D) applies for a taxable year, paragraph (1) shall be applied—
first to the portion of the passive activity loss to which subparagraph (C) does not apply,
second to the portion of such loss to which subparagraph (C) applies,
third to the portion of the passive activity credit to which subparagraph (B) or (D) does not apply,
fourth to the portion of such credit to which subparagraph (B) applies, and
then to the portion of such credit to which subparagraph (D) applies.
Adjusted gross income
For purposes of this paragraph, adjusted gross income shall be determined without regard to—
any amount includible in gross income under section 86,
the amounts excludable from gross income under sections 135 and 137,
the amounts allowable as a deduction under sections 199, 219, 221, and 222, and
any passive activity loss or any loss allowable by reason of subsection (c)(7).
Special rule for estates
In general
Reduction for surviving spouse’s exemption
Married individuals filing separately
In general
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), in the case of any married individual filing a separate return, this subsection shall be applied by substituting—
“$12,500” for “$25,000” each place it appears,
“$50,000” for “$100,000” in paragraph (3)(A), and
“$100,000” for “$200,000” in paragraph (3)(B).
Taxpayers not living apart
This subsection shall not apply to a taxpayer who—
is a married individual filing a separate return for any taxable year, and
does not live apart from his spouse at all times during such taxable year.
Active participation
In general
No participation requirement for low-income housing, rehabilitation credit, or commercial revitalization deduction
Paragraphs (1) and (4)(A) shall be applied without regard to the active participation requirement in the case of—
any credit determined under section 42 for any taxable year,
any rehabilitation credit determined under section 47, or
any deduction under section 1400I (relating to commercial revitalization deduction).
Interest as a limited partner
Participation by spouse
Other definitions and special rules
For purposes of this section—
Closely held C corporation
Personal service corporation
The term “personal service corporation” has the meaning given such term by section 269A(b)(1), except that section 269A(b)(2) shall be applied—
by substituting “any” for “more than 10 percent”, and
by substituting “any” for “50 percent or more in value” in section 318(a)(2)(C).
A corporation shall not be treated as a personal service corporation unless more than 10 percent of the stock (by value) in such corporation is held by employee-owners (within the meaning of section 269A(b)(2), as modified by the preceding sentence).
Regular tax liability
Allocation of passive activity loss and credit
Deduction equivalent
Special rule for gifts
In the case of a disposition of any interest in a passive activity by gift—
the basis of such interest immediately before the transfer shall be increased by the amount of any passive activity losses allocable to such interest with respect to which a deduction has not been allowed by reason of subsection (a), and
such losses shall not be allowable as a deduction for any taxable year.
Qualified residence interest
Rental activity
Election to increase basis of property by amount of disallowed credit
Coordination with section 280A
Aggregation of members of affiliated groups
Special rule for distributions by estates or trusts
If any interest in a passive activity is distributed by an estate or trust—
the basis of such interest immediately before such distribution shall be increased by the amount of any passive activity losses allocable to such interest, and
such losses shall not be allowable as a deduction for any taxable year.
Separate application of section in case of publicly traded partnerships
In general
Publicly traded partnership
For purposes of this section, the term “publicly traded partnership” means any partnership if—
interests in such partnership are traded on an established securities market, or
interests in such partnership are readily tradable on a secondary market (or the substantial equivalent thereof).
Coordination with subsection (g)
Application to regulated investment companies
Regulations
The Secretary shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out provisions of this section, including regulations—
which specify what constitutes an activity, material participation, or active participation for purposes of this section,
which provide that certain items of gross income will not be taken into account in determining income or loss from any activity (and the treatment of expenses allocable to such income),
requiring net income or gain from a limited partnership or other passive activity to be treated as not from a passive activity,
which provide for the determination of the allocation of interest expense for purposes of this section, and
which deal with changes in marital status and changes between joint returns and separate returns.
Source
(Added Pub. L. 99–514, title V, § 501(a),Notes
Amendments
Effective Date of 2014 Amendment
Effective Date of 2004 Amendment
Effective Date of 2002 Amendment
Effective Date of 2001 Amendment
Effective Date of 1998 Amendment
Effective Date of 1996 Amendment
Effective Date of 1993 Amendment
Effective Date of 1990 Amendment
Effective Date of 1989 Amendment
In general.—
Except as provided in paragraph (2), the amendments made by this section [amending this section] shall apply to property placed in service after
Special rule where interest held in pass-thru entity.—
In the case of a taxpayer who holds an indirect interest in property described in paragraph (1), the amendments made by this section shall apply only if such interest is acquired after
Effective Date of 1988 Amendment
Effective Date of 1987 Amendment
Effective Date
In general.—
The amendments made by this section [enacting this section] shall apply to taxable years beginning after
Special rule for carryovers.—
The amendments made by this section shall not apply to any loss, deduction, or credit carried to a taxable year beginning after
Income from sales of passive activities in taxable years beginning before january 1, 1987.—
If—
gain is recognized in a taxable year beginning after
such gain would have been treated as gain from a passive activity had section 469 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as added by this section) been in effect for the taxable year in which the sale or exchange occurred and for all succeeding taxable years,
then such gain shall be treated as gain from a passive activity for purposes of such section.”
Savings Provision
Amounts Attributable to Activities Subject to Limitations Under Section 469 Treated as Deduction Allocable to Such Activity
“If—
any amount was disallowed as a deduction under section 163(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 [now 1986] (as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of the Reform Act [
such amount would (but for this paragraph) be treated as investment interest paid or accrued by the taxpayer in the taxpayer’s first taxable year beginning after
the taxpayer makes an election under this paragraph at such time and in such manner as the Secretary of the Treasury or his delegate shall prescribe,
to the extent such amount is attributable to an activity subject to the limitations of section 469 of the 1986 Code, such amount shall not be treated as investment interest but shall be treated as a deduction allocable to such activity for such first taxable year. [Former] Subsection (m) of section 469 of the 1986 Code and section 501(c)(2) of the Reform Act [Pub. L. 99–514, set out as an Effective Date note above] shall not apply to any amount so treated.”
Transitional Rule for Low-Income Housing
General Rule.—
Any loss sustained by a qualified investor with respect to an interest in a qualified low-income housing project for any taxable year in the relief period shall not be treated as a loss from a passive activity for purposes of section 469 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
Relief Period.—
For purposes of subsection (a), the term ‘relief period’ means the period beginning with the taxable year in which the investor made his initial investment in the qualified low-income housing project and ending with whichever of the following is the earliest—
the 6th taxable year after the taxable year in which the investor made his initial investment,
the 1st taxable year after the taxable year in which the investor is obligated to make his last investment, or
the taxable year preceding the 1st taxable year for which such project ceased to be a qualified low-income housing project.
Qualified Low-Income Housing Project.—
For purposes of this section, the term ‘qualified low-income housing project’ means any project if—
such project meets the requirements of clause (i), (ii), (iii), or (iv) of section 1250(a)(1)(B) [of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986] as of the date placed in service and for each taxable year thereafter which begins after 1986 and for which a passive loss may be allowable with respect to such project,
the operator certifies to the Secretary of the Treasury or his delegate that such project met the requirements of paragraph (1) on the date of the enactment of this Act [
such project is constructed or acquired pursuant to a binding written contract entered into on or before
such project is placed in service before
Qualified Investor.—
For purposes of this section—
In general.—
The term ‘qualified investor’ means any natural person who holds (directly or through 1 or more entities) an interest in a qualified low-income housing project—
if—
in the case of a project placed in service on or before
in the case of a project placed in service after
if such investor is required to make payments after
For purposes of subparagraph (A), a person shall be treated as holding an interest on
Treatment of estates.—
The estate of a decedent shall succeed to the treatment under this section of the decedent but only with respect to the 1st 2 taxable years of such estate ending after the date of the decedent’s death.
Special rule for certain partnerships.—
In the case of any property which is held by a partnership—
which placed such property in service on or after
which was not treated as a new partnership or as terminated at any time on or after the date on which such property was placed in service and through the close of the taxable year for which the determination is being made,
paragraph (1)(A)(i) shall be applied by substituting ‘
Special rule for certain rural housing.—
In the case of any interest in a qualified low-income housing project which—
is assisted under section 515 of the Housing Act of 1949 [42 U.S.C. 1485] (relating to the Farmers’ Home Administration Program), and
is located in a town with a population of less than 10,000 and which is not part of a metropolitan statistical area,
paragraph (1)(B) shall be applied by substituting ‘35 percent’ for ‘50 percent’ and subsection (b)(1) shall be applied by substituting ‘5th taxable year’ for ‘6th taxable year’. The preceding sentence shall not apply to any interest unless, on
Special Rules.—
Where more than 1 building in project.—
If there is more than 1 building in any project, the determination of when such project is placed in service shall be based on when the 1st building in such project is placed in service.
Only cash and other property taken into account.—
In determining the amount any person invests in (or is obligated to invest in) any interest, only cash and other property shall be taken into account.
Coordination with credit.—
No low-income housing credit shall be determined under section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 with respect to any project with respect to which any person has been allowed any benefit under this section.”