1. (a) Treatment as expenses

   1. (1) In general A taxpayer may elect to treat qualified architectural and transportation barrier removal expenses which are paid or incurred by him during the taxable year as expenses which are not chargeable to capital account. The expenditures so treated shall be allowed as a deduction.
   2. (2) Election An election under paragraph (1) shall be made at such time and in such manner as the Secretary prescribes by regulations.

2. (b) Definitions For purposes of this section—

   1. (1) Architectural and transportation barrier removal expenses The term “architectural and transportation barrier removal expenses” means an expenditure for the purpose of making any facility or public transportation vehicle owned or leased by the taxpayer for use in connection with his trade or business more accessible to, and usable by, handicapped and elderly individuals.
   2. (2) Qualified architectural and transportation barrier removal expenses The term “qualified architectural and transportation barrier removal expense” means, with respect to any such facility or public transportation vehicle, an architectural or transportation barrier removal expense with respect to which the taxpayer establishes, to the satisfaction of the Secretary, that the resulting removal of any such barrier meets the standards promulgated by the Secretary with the concurrence of the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board and set forth in regulations prescribed by the Secretary.
   3. (3) Handicapped individual The term “handicapped individual” means any individual who has a physical or mental disability (including, but not limited to, blindness or deafness) which for such individual constitutes or results in a functional limitation to employment, or who has any physical or mental impairment (including, but not limited to, a sight or hearing impairment) which substantially limits one or more major life activities of such individual.
3. (c) Limitation The deduction allowed by subsection (a) for any taxable year shall not exceed $15,000.

(Added Pub. L. 94–455, title XXI, § 2122(a), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1914; amended Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title X, § 1062(a)(1), (b), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 1047; Pub. L. 99–514, title II, § 244, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2183; Pub. L. 101–508, title XI, §§ 11611(c), 11801(a)(14), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–503, 1388–520.)

Amendments 1990—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 101–508, § 11611(c), substituted “$15,000” for “$35,000”.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 101–508, § 11801(a)(14), struck out subsec. (d) which related to application of section to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1976, and before Jan. 1, 1983, and to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1983.

1986—Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 99–514 substituted “1983” for “1983, and before January 1, 1986”.

1984—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 98–369, § 1062(b), substituted “$35,000” for “$25,000”.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 98–369, § 1062(a)(1), amended subsec. (d) generally, substituting provisions that this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1976, and before January 1, 1983, and to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1983, and before January 1, 1986 for provisions which had required the Secretary to prescribe such regulations as might be necessary to carry out this section within 180 days after October 4, 1976.

Effective Date of 1990 Amendment Amendment by section 11611(c) of Pub. L. 101–508 applicable to taxable years beginning after Nov. 5, 1990, see section 11611(e)(2) of Pub. L. 101–508, set out as a note under section 38 of this title.

Effective Date of 1984 Amendment Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title X, § 1062(c), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 1047, provided that:

“The amendment made by subsection (b) [amending this section] shall apply to taxable years beginning after

December 31, 1983.”

Effective Date Pub. L. 94–455, title XXI, § 2122(c), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1915, as amended by Pub. L. 96–167, § 9(c), Dec. 29, 1979, 93 Stat. 1278; Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title X, § 1062(a)(2), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 1047, provided that:

“The amendments made by this section [enacting this section and amending sections 263, 1245, and 1250 of this title] shall apply to taxable years beginning after

December 31, 1976.”

Savings Provision For provisions that nothing in amendment by section 11801(a)(14) of Pub. L. 101–508 be construed to affect treatment of certain transactions occurring, property acquired, or items of income, loss, deduction, or credit taken into account prior to Nov. 5, 1990, for purposes of determining liability for tax for periods ending after Nov. 5, 1990, see section 11821(b) of Pub. L. 101–508, set out as a note under section 45K of this title.