26 U.S.C. § 851
(a) General rule For purposes of this subtitle, the term “regulated investment company” means any domestic corporation—
(1) which, at all times during the taxable year—
(b) Limitations A corporation shall not be considered a regulated investment company for any taxable year unless—
(2) at least 90 percent of its gross income is derived from—
(3) at the close of each quarter of the taxable year—
(A) at least 50 percent of the value of its total assets is represented by—
(B) not more than 25 percent of the value of its total assets is invested in—
For purposes of paragraph (2), there shall be treated as dividends amounts included in gross income under section 951(a)(1)(A) or 1293(a) for the taxable year to the extent that, under section 959(a)(1) or 1293(c) (as the case may be), there is a distribution out of the earnings and profits of the taxable year which are attributable to the amounts so included. For purposes of paragraph (2), the Secretary may by regulation exclude from qualifying income foreign currency gains which are not directly related to the company’s principal business of investing in stock or securities (or options and futures with respect to stock or securities). For purposes of paragraph (2), amounts excludable from gross income under section 103(a) shall be treated as included in gross income. Income derived from a partnership (other than a qualified publicly traded partnership as defined in subsection (h)) or trust shall be treated as described in paragraph (2) only to the extent such income is attributable to items of income of the partnership or trust (as the case may be) which would be described in paragraph (2) if realized by the regulated investment company in the same manner as realized by the partnership or trust.
(c) Rules applicable to subsection (b)(3) For purposes of subsection (b)(3) and this subsection—
(3) The term “controlled group” means one or more chains of corporations connected through stock ownership with the taxpayer if—
(d) Determination of status
(2) Special rules regarding failure to satisfy requirements If paragraph (1) does not preserve a corporation’s status as a regulated investment company for any particular quarter—
(A) In general A corporation that fails to meet the requirements of subsection (b)(3) (other than a failure described in subparagraph (B)(i) of this paragraph) for such quarter shall nevertheless be considered to have satisfied the requirements of such subsection for such quarter if—
(iii)
(B) Rule for certain de minimis failures A corporation that fails to meet the requirements of subsection (b)(3) for such quarter shall nevertheless be considered to have satisfied the requirements of such subsection for such quarter if—
(i) such failure is due to the ownership of assets the total value of which does not exceed the lesser of—
(ii)
(C) Tax
(i) Tax imposed If subparagraph (A) applies to a corporation for any quarter, there is hereby imposed on such corporation a tax in an amount equal to the greater of—
(e) Investment companies furnishing capital to development corporations
(f) Certain unit investment trusts For purposes of this title—
(1) A unit investment trust (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940)—
shall not be treated as a person.
(2) In the case of a unit investment trust described in paragraph (1)—
This subsection shall not apply in the case of a unit investment trust which is a segregated asset account under the insurance laws or regulations of a State.
(g) Special rule for series funds
(i) Failure to satisfy gross income test
(1) Disclosure requirement A corporation that fails to meet the requirement of paragraph (2) of subsection (b) for any taxable year shall nevertheless be considered to have satisfied the requirement of such paragraph for such taxable year if—
(2) Imposition of tax on failures If paragraph (1) applies to a regulated investment company for any taxable year, there is hereby imposed on such company a tax in an amount equal to the excess of—
(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 268; Pub. L. 85–866, title I, § 38, , 72 Stat. 1638; Pub. L. 91–172, title IX, § 908(a), , 83 Stat. 717; Pub. L. 94–12, title VI, § 602(a)(2), , 89 Stat. 58; Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, §§ 1901(a)(109), 1906(b)(13)(A), , 90 Stat. 1783, 1834; Pub. L. 95–345, § 2(a)(3), , 92 Stat. 481; Pub. L. 95–600, title VII, § 701(s)(1), , 92 Stat. 2911; Pub. L. 97–424, title V, § 547(b)(1), , 96 Stat. 2199; Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title X, § 1071(a)(1), , 98 Stat. 1049; Pub. L. 99–514, title VI, §§ 652(a), (b), 653(a)–(c), 654(a), title XII, § 1235(f)(3), , 100 Stat. 2297, 2298, 2575; Pub. L. 100–647, title I, § 1006(m), (n)(1), (2)(A), (B), (4), (5), (o), , 102 Stat. 3415, 3416; Pub. L. 105–34, title XII, § 1271(a)–(b)(7), , 111 Stat. 1036, 1037; Pub. L. 108–357, title III, § 331(a)–(d), (f), , 118 Stat. 1476; Pub. L. 111–325, title II, § 201(a), (b), , 124 Stat. 3539, 3540; Pub. L. 113–295, div. A, title II, § 205(e), , 128 Stat. 4027; Pub. L. 115–97, title I, § 14212(b)(1)(B), , 131 Stat. 2217.)
The Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, referred to in subsecs. (a)(1), (b)(2)(A), (c)(6), and (f)(1), is title I of act Aug. 22, 1940, ch. 686, 54 Stat. 789, which is classified generally to subchapter I (§ 80a–1 et seq.) of chapter 2D of Title 15, Commerce and Trade. Section 2(a)(36) of the Act is classified to section 80a–2(a)(36) of Title 15. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 80a–51 of Title 15 and Tables.
2017—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 115–97 substituted “section 951(a)(1)(A)” for “section 951(a)(1)(A)(i)” in concluding provisions.
2014—Subsec. (d)(2)(A). Pub. L. 113–295 inserted “of this paragraph” after “subparagraph (B)(i)” in introductory provisions.
2010—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 111–325, § 201(a), designated existing provisions as par. (1), inserted heading, and added par. (2).
Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 111–325, § 201(b), added subsec. (i).
2004—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 108–357, § 331(b), inserted “(other than a qualified publicly traded partnership as defined in subsection (h))” after “derived from a partnership” in concluding provisions.
Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 108–357, § 331(a), amended par. (2) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (2) read as follows: “at least 90 percent of its gross income is derived from dividends, interest, payments with respect to securities loans (as defined in section 512(a)(5)), and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock or securities (as defined in section 2(a)(36) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended) or foreign currencies, or other income (including but not limited to gains from options, futures, or forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities, or currencies; and”.
Subsec. (b)(3)(B). Pub. L. 108–357, § 331(f), amended subpar. (B) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (B) read as follows: “not more than 25 percent of the value of its total assets is invested in the securities (other than Government securities or the securities of other regulated investment companies) of any one issuer, or of two or more issuers which the taxpayer controls and which are determined, under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, to be engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses or related trades or businesses.”
Subsec. (c)(5), (6). Pub. L. 108–357, § 331(c), added par. (5) and redesignated former par. (5) as (6).
Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 108–357, § 331(d), added subsec. (h).
1997—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 105–34, § 1271(b)(1), in concluding provisions, substituted “paragraph (2), amounts excludable” for “paragraphs (2) and (3), amounts excludable” and struck out “In the case of the taxable year in which a regulated investment company is completely liquidated, there shall not be taken into account under paragraph (3) any gain from the sale, exchange, or distribution of any property after the adoption of the plan of complete liquidation.” at end.
Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 105–34, § 1271(a), inserted “and” at end.
Subsec. (b)(3), (4). Pub. L. 105–34, § 1271(a), redesignated par. (4) as (3) and struck out former par. (3) which read as follows: “less than 30 percent of its gross income is derived from the sale or disposition of any of the following which was held for less than 3 months:
“(A) stock or securities (as defined in section 2(a)(36) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended),
“(B) options, futures, or forward contracts (other than options, futures, or forward contracts on foreign currencies), or
“(C) foreign currencies (or options, futures, or forward contracts on foreign currencies) but only if such currencies (or options, futures, or forward contracts) are not directly related to the company’s principal business of investing in stock or securities (or options and futures with respect to stocks or securities), and”.
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 105–34, § 1271(b)(2), substituted “subsection (b)(3)” for “subsection (b)(4)” in heading and introductory provisions.
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 105–34, § 1271(b)(3), substituted “subsections (b)(3)” for “subsections (b)(4)”.
Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 105–34, § 1271(b)(4), substituted “subsection (b)(3)” for “subsection (b)(4)”.
Subsec. (e)(4). Pub. L. 105–34, § 1271(b)(5), substituted “subsections (b)(3)” for “subsections (b)(4)”.
Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 105–34, § 1271(b)(6), redesignated subsec. (h) as (g) and struck out former subsec. (g) which provided for treatment of certain hedging transactions.
Subsec. (g)(3). Pub. L. 105–34, § 1271(b)(7), struck out par. (3) which provided special rule for abnormal redemptions.
Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 105–34, § 1271(b)(6), redesignated subsec. (h) as (g).
1988—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 100–647, § 1006(m)(1), amended par. (1) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (1) read as follows: “which, at all times during the taxable year, is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (15 U.S.C. 80a–1 to 80b–2), as a management company, business development company, or unit investment trust, or”.
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 100–647, § 1006(n)(1), (5), inserted at end “Income derived from a partnership or trust shall be treated as described in paragraph (2) only to the extent such income is attributable to items of income of the partnership or trust (as the case may be) which would be described in paragraph (2) if realized by the regulated investment company in the same manner as realized by the partnership or trust. In the case of the taxable year in which a regulated investment company is completely liquidated, there shall not be taken into account under paragraph (3) any gain from the sale, exchange, or distribution of any property after the adoption of the plan of complete liquidation.”
Pub. L. 100–647, § 1006(n)(2)(B), substituted “which are not directly related” for “which are not ancillary” in last sentence.
Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 100–647, § 1006(n)(2)(A), amended par. (3) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (3) read as follows: “less than 30 percent of its gross income is derived from the sale or other disposition of stock or securities held for less than 3 months; and”.
Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 100–647, § 1006(m)(2), substituted “a management company or a business development company described in subsection (a)(1)” for “a registered management company or registered business development company”.
Subsec. (g)(2)(A)(i). Pub. L. 100–647, § 1006(n)(4), substituted “contractual obligation” for “contractual option”.
Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 100–647, § 1006(o)(1), redesignated subsec. (q) as (h).
Subsec. (h)(3). Pub. L. 100–647, § 1006(o)(2), added par. (3).
Subsec. (q). Pub. L. 100–647, § 1006(o)(1), redesignated subsec. (q) as (h).
1986—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 99–514, § 652(a), substituted “as a management company, business development company, or unit investment trust” for “either as a management company or as a unit investment trust”.
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 99–514, § 1235(f)(3), inserted “or 1293(a)” and “or 1293(c) (as the case may be)”, in concluding provision.
Pub. L. 99–514, § 653(c), inserted before last sentence “For purposes of paragraph (2), the Secretary may by regulation exclude from qualifying income foreign currency gains which are not ancillary to the company’s principal business of investing in stock or securities (or options and futures with respect to stock or securities).”
Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 99–514, § 653(b), inserted “(as defined in section 2(a)(36) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended) or foreign currencies, or other income (including but not limited to gains from options, futures, or forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities, or currencies”.
Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 99–514, § 652(b), substituted “registered management company or registered business development company” for “registered management company”.
Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 99–514, § 653(a), added subsec. (g).
Subsec. (q). Pub. L. 99–514, § 654(a), added subsec. (q).
1984—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 98–369 struck out “(other than a personal holding company as defined in section 542)” after “any domestic corporation” in introductory provisions.
1983—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 97–424 substituted “section 103(a)” for “section 103(a)(1)” after “gross income under”.
1978—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 95–600 required that for purposes of pars. (2) and (3), amounts excludable from gross income under section 103(a)(1) shall be treated as included in gross income.
Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 95–345 inserted provision relating to payments with respect to securities loans.
1976—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 94–455, § 1901(a)(109)(A), struck out “54 Stat. 789;” before “15 U.S.C. 80a–1 to 80b–2)”.
Subsec. (b)(1), (4)(B). Pub. L. 94–455, § 1901(a)(109)(B), struck out “which began after ” after “previous taxable year” in par. (1), and “or his delegate” after “Secretary” in par. (4)(B).
Subsecs. (c), (d). Pub. L. 94–455, § 1906(b)(13)(A), struck out “or his delegate” after “Secretary” wherever appearing.
1975—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 94–12 inserted provisions directing that, for purposes of par. (2), there shall be treated as dividends amounts included in gross income under section 951(a)(1)(A)(i) for the taxable year to the extent that, under section 959(a)(1), there is a distribution out of earnings and profits of the taxable year which are attributable to the amounts so included.
1969—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 91–172 added subsec. (f).
1958—Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 85–866, § 38(a), substituted “not earlier than 60 days” for “not less than 60 days” in first sentence.
Subsec. (e)(2). Pub. L. 85–866, § 38(b), substituted “issuer” for “issues”.
Pub. L. 115–97, title I, § 14212(c), , 131 Stat. 2217, provided that:
“The amendments made by this section [amending this section and sections 951, 952, 953, 964, and 970 of this title and repealing
section 955 of this title] shall apply to taxable years of foreign corporations beginning after
December 31, 2017, and to taxable years of United States shareholders in which or with which such taxable years of foreign corporations end.”
Amendment by Pub. L. 113–295 effective as if included in the provision of the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010, Pub. L. 111–325, to which such amendment relates, with savings provision in certain cases of an election by a regulated investment company under section 852(b)(8) of this title, see section 205(f) of Pub. L. 113–295, set out as a note under section 852 of this title.
Pub. L. 111–325, title II, § 201(d), , 124 Stat. 3541, provided that:
“The amendments made by this section [amending this section and
section 852 of this title] shall apply to taxable years with respect to which the due date (determined with regard to any extensions) of the return of tax for such taxable year is after the date of the enactment of this Act [
Dec. 22, 2010].”
Amendment by Pub. L. 108–357 applicable to taxable years beginning after , see section 331(h) of Pub. L. 108–357, set out as a note under section 469 of this title.
Amendment by Pub. L. 105–34 applicable to taxable years beginning after , see section 1271(c) of Pub. L. 105–34, set out as a note under section 817 of this title.
Pub. L. 100–647, title I, § 1006(n)(2)(C), , 102 Stat. 3415, provided that:
“Subparagraph (C) of section 851(b)(3) of the 1986 Code (as amended by subparagraph (A)), and the amendment made by subparagraph (B) [amending this section], shall apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act [
Nov. 10, 1988].”
Amendment by section 1006(m), (n)(1), (2)(A), (4), (5), (o) of 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.
Pub. L. 99–514, title VI, § 652(c), , 100 Stat. 2297, provided that:
“The amendments made by this section [amending this section] shall apply to taxable years beginning after
December 31, 1986.”
Pub. L. 99–514, title VI, § 653(d), , 100 Stat. 2298, provided that:
“The amendments made by this section [amending this section] shall apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act [
Oct. 22, 1986].”
Pub. L. 99–514, title VI, § 654(b), , 100 Stat. 2298, provided that:
- “(1) In general.— The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act [].
“(2) Treatment of certain existing series funds.— In the case of a regulated investment company which has more than one fund on the date of the enactment of this act, and has before such date been treated for Federal income tax purposes as a single corporation—
- “(A) the amendment made by subsection (a), and the resulting treatment of each fund as a separate corporation, shall not give rise to the realization or recognition of income or loss by such regulated investment company, its funds, or its shareholders, and
- “(B) the tax attributes of such regulated investment company shall be appropriately allocated among its funds.”
Amendment by section 1235(f)(3) of Pub. L. 99–514 applicable to taxable years of foreign corporations beginning after , see section 1235(h) of Pub. L. 99–514, set out as an Effective Date note under section 1291 of this title.
Amendment by Pub. L. 98–369 applicable to taxable years beginning after , with certain exceptions, see section 1071(a)(5) of Pub. L. 98–369, set out as a note under section 852 of this title.
Pub. L. 95–600, title VII, § 701(s)(3), , 92 Stat. 2911, provided that:
“The amendments made by this section [amending this section and
section 852 of this title] shall apply to taxable years beginning after
December 31, 1975.”
Amendment by Pub. L. 95–345 applicable with respect to amounts received after , as payments with respect to securities loans (as defined in section 512(a)(5) of this title), and transfers of securities, under agreements described in section 1058 of this title, occurring after such date, see section 2(e) of Pub. L. 95–345, set out as a note under section 509 of this title.
Amendment by section 1901(a)(109) of Pub. L. 94–455 effective for taxable years beginning after , see section 1901(d) of Pub. L. 94–455, set out as a note under section 2 of this title.
Amendment by Pub. L. 94–12 applicable to taxable years of foreign corporations beginning after , and to taxable years of United States shareholders (within the meaning of section 951(b) of this title) within which or with which such taxable years of such foreign corporations end, see section 602(f) of Pub. L. 94–12, set out as an Effective Date note under section 954 of this title.
Pub. L. 91–172, title IX, § 908(b), , 83 Stat. 718, provided that:
“The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply to taxable years of unit investment trusts ending after
December 31, 1968, and to taxable years of holders of interests in such trusts ending with or within such taxable years of such trusts. The enactment of this section shall not be construed to result in the realization of gain or loss by any unit investment trust or by any holder of an interest in a unit investment trust.”
Amendment by Pub. L. 85–866 applicable to taxable years beginning after , and ending after , see section 1(c)(1) of Pub. L. 85–866, set out as a note under section 165 of this title.