26 U.S.C. § 163
Section 163 · Interest
Current version, with additions and removals from the February 9, 2018 version.
There shall be allowed as a deduction all interest paid or accrued within the taxable year on indebtedness.
There shall be allowed as a deduction all interest paid or accrued within the taxable year on indebtedness.
If personal property or educational services are purchased under a contract—
which provides that payment of part or all of the purchase price is to be made in installments, and
in which carrying charges are separately stated but the interest charge cannot be ascertained,
then the payments made during the taxable year under the contract shall be treated for purposes of this section as if they included interest equal to 6 percent of the average unpaid balance under the contract during the taxable year. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the average unpaid balance is the sum of the unpaid balance outstanding on the first day of each month beginning during the taxable year, divided by 12. For purposes of this paragraph, the term “educational services” means any service (including lodging) which is purchased from an educational organization described in section 170(b)(1)(A)(ii) and which is provided for a student of such organization.
In the case of any contract to which paragraph (1) applies, the amount treated as interest for any taxable year shall not exceed the aggregate carrying charges which are properly attributable to such taxable year.
If personal property or educational services are purchased under a contract—
which provides that payment of part or all of the purchase price is to be made in installments, and
in which carrying charges are separately stated but the interest charge cannot be ascertained,
then the payments made during the taxable year under the contract shall be treated for purposes of this section as if they included interest equal to 6 percent of the average unpaid balance under the contract during the taxable year. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the average unpaid balance is the sum of the unpaid balance outstanding on the first day of each month beginning during the taxable year, divided by 12. For purposes of this paragraph, the term “educational services” means any service (including lodging) which is purchased from an educational organization described in section 170(b)(1)(A)(ii) and which is provided for a student of such organization.
In the case of any contract to which paragraph (1) applies, the amount treated as interest for any taxable year shall not exceed the aggregate carrying charges which are properly attributable to such taxable year.
For purposes of this subtitle, any annual or periodic rental under a redeemable ground rent (excluding amounts in redemption thereof) shall be treated as interest on an indebtedness secured by a mortgage.
For purposes of this subtitle, any annual or periodic rental under a redeemable ground rent (excluding amounts in redemption thereof) shall be treated as interest on an indebtedness secured by a mortgage.
Nothing in subsection (a) or in any other provision of law shall be construed to provide a deduction for interest on any registration-required obligation unless such obligation is in registered form.
For purposes of this section—
The term “registration-required obligation” means any obligation (including any obligation issued by a governmental entity) other than an obligation which—
is issued by a natural person,
is not of a type offered to the public, or
has a maturity (at issue) of not more than 1 year.
Clauses (ii) and (iii) of subparagraph (A) shall not apply to any obligation if—
such obligation is of a type which the Secretary has determined by regulations to be used frequently in avoiding Federal taxes, and
such obligation is issued after the date on which the regulations referred to in clause (i) take effect.
For purposes of this subsection, rules similar to the rules of section 149(a)(3) shall apply, except that a dematerialized book entry system or other book entry system specified by the Secretary shall be treated as a book entry system described in such section.
Nothing in subsection (a) or in any other provision of law shall be construed to provide a deduction for interest on any registration-required obligation unless such obligation is in registered form.
For purposes of this section—
The term “registration-required obligation” means any obligation (including any obligation issued by a governmental entity) other than an obligation which—
is issued by a natural person,
is not of a type offered to the public, or
has a maturity (at issue) of not more than 1 year.
Clauses (ii) and (iii) of subparagraph (A) shall not apply to any obligation if—
such obligation is of a type which the Secretary has determined by regulations to be used frequently in avoiding Federal taxes, and
such obligation is issued after the date on which the regulations referred to in clause (i) take effect.
For purposes of this subsection, rules similar to the rules of section 149(a)(3) shall apply, except that a dematerialized book entry system or other book entry system specified by the Secretary shall be treated as a book entry system described in such section.
The amount of the deduction under this section for interest paid or accrued during any taxable year on indebtedness with respect to which a mortgage credit certificate has been issued under section 25 shall be reduced by the amount of the credit allowable with respect to such interest under section 25 (determined without regard to section 26).
The amount of the deduction under this section for interest paid or accrued during any taxable year on indebtedness with respect to which a mortgage credit certificate has been issued under section 25 shall be reduced by the amount of the credit allowable with respect to such interest under section 25 (determined without regard to section 26).
For purposes of this section, the term “applicable high yield discount obligation” means any debt instrument if—
the maturity date of such instrument is more than 5 years from the date of issue,
the yield to maturity on such instrument equals or exceeds the sum of—
the applicable Federal rate in effect under section 1274(d) for the calendar month in which the obligation is issued, plus
5 percentage points, and
such instrument has significant original issue discount.
For purposes of subparagraph (B)(i), the Secretary may by regulation (i) permit a rate to be used with respect to any debt instrument which is higher than the applicable Federal rate if the taxpayer establishes to the satisfaction of the Secretary that such higher rate is based on the same principles as the applicable Federal rate and is appropriate for the term of the instrument, or (ii) permit, on a temporary basis, a rate to be used with respect to any debt instrument which is higher than the applicable Federal rate if the Secretary determines that such rate is appropriate in light of distressed conditions in the debt capital markets.
For purposes of paragraph (1)(C), a debt instrument shall be treated as having significant original issue discount if—
the aggregate amount which would be includible in gross income with respect to such instrument for periods before the close of any accrual period (as defined in section 1272(a)(5)) ending after the date 5 years after the date of issue, exceeds—
the sum of—
the aggregate amount of interest to be paid under the instrument before the close of such accrual period, and
the product of the issue price of such instrument (as defined in sections 1273(b) and 1274(a)) and its yield to maturity.
For purposes of determining whether a debt instrument is an applicable high yield discount obligation—
any payment under the instrument shall be assumed to be made on the last day permitted under the instrument, and
any payment to be made in the form of another obligation of the issuer (or a related person within the meaning of section 453(f)(1)) shall be assumed to be made when such obligation is required to be paid in cash or in property other than such obligation.
Except for purposes of paragraph (1)(B), any reference to an obligation in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph shall be treated as including a reference to stock.
For purposes of this subsection, the term “debt instrument” means any instrument which is a debt instrument as defined in section 1275(a).
The Secretary shall prescribe such regulations as may be appropriate to carry out the purposes of this subsection and subsection (e)(5), including—
regulations providing for modifications to the provisions of this subsection and subsection (e)(5) in the case of varying rates of interest, put or call options, indefinite maturities, contingent payments, assumptions of debt instruments, conversion rights, or other circumstances where such modifications are appropriate to carry out the purposes of this subsection and subsection (e)(5), and
regulations to prevent avoidance of the purposes of this subsection and subsection (e)(5) through the use of issuers other than C corporations, agreements to borrow amounts due under the debt instrument, or other arrangements.
For purposes of this section, the term “applicable high yield discount obligation” means any debt instrument if—
the maturity date of such instrument is more than 5 years from the date of issue,
the yield to maturity on such instrument equals or exceeds the sum of—
the applicable Federal rate in effect under section 1274(d) for the calendar month in which the obligation is issued, plus
5 percentage points, and
such instrument has significant original issue discount.
For purposes of subparagraph (B)(i), the Secretary may by regulation (i) permit a rate to be used with respect to any debt instrument which is higher than the applicable Federal rate if the taxpayer establishes to the satisfaction of the Secretary that such higher rate is based on the same principles as the applicable Federal rate and is appropriate for the term of the instrument, or (ii) permit, on a temporary basis, a rate to be used with respect to any debt instrument which is higher than the applicable Federal rate if the Secretary determines that such rate is appropriate in light of distressed conditions in the debt capital markets.
For purposes of paragraph (1)(C), a debt instrument shall be treated as having significant original issue discount if—
the aggregate amount which would be includible in gross income with respect to such instrument for periods before the close of any accrual period (as defined in section 1272(a)(5)) ending after the date 5 years after the date of issue, exceeds—
the sum of—
the aggregate amount of interest to be paid under the instrument before the close of such accrual period, and
the product of the issue price of such instrument (as defined in sections 1273(b) and 1274(a)) and its yield to maturity.
For purposes of determining whether a debt instrument is an applicable high yield discount obligation—
any payment under the instrument shall be assumed to be made on the last day permitted under the instrument, and
any payment to be made in the form of another obligation of the issuer (or a related person within the meaning of section 453(f)(1)) shall be assumed to be made when such obligation is required to be paid in cash or in property other than such obligation.
Except for purposes of paragraph (1)(B), any reference to an obligation in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph shall be treated as including a reference to stock.
For purposes of this subsection, the term “debt instrument” means any instrument which is a debt instrument as defined in section 1275(a).
The Secretary shall prescribe such regulations as may be appropriate to carry out the purposes of this subsection and subsection (e)(5), including—
regulations providing for modifications to the provisions of this subsection and subsection (e)(5) in the case of varying rates of interest, put or call options, indefinite maturities, contingent payments, assumptions of debt instruments, conversion rights, or other circumstances where such modifications are appropriate to carry out the purposes of this subsection and subsection (e)(5), and
regulations to prevent avoidance of the purposes of this subsection and subsection (e)(5) through the use of issuers other than C corporations, agreements to borrow amounts due under the debt instrument, or other arrangements.
No deduction shall be allowed under this section for any interest payable under section 6601 on any unpaid portion of the tax imposed by section 2001 for the period during which an extension of time for payment of such tax is in effect under section 6166.
No deduction shall be allowed under this section for any interest payable under section 6601 on any unpaid portion of the tax imposed by section 2001 for the period during which an extension of time for payment of such tax is in effect under section 6166.
No deduction shall be allowed under this chapter for any interest paid or accrued on a disqualified debt instrument.
For purposes of this subsection, the term “disqualified debt instrument” means any indebtedness of a corporation which is payable in equity of the issuer or a related party or equity held by the issuer (or any related party) in any other person.
For purposes of paragraph (2), indebtedness shall be treated as payable in equity of the issuer or any other person only if—
a substantial amount of the principal or interest is required to be paid or converted, or at the option of the issuer or a related party is payable in, or convertible into, such equity,
a substantial amount of the principal or interest is required to be determined, or at the option of the issuer or a related party is determined, by reference to the value of such equity, or
the indebtedness is part of an arrangement which is reasonably expected to result in a transaction described in subparagraph (A) or (B).
For purposes of this paragraph, principal or interest shall be treated as required to be so paid, converted, or determined if it may be required at the option of the holder or a related party and there is a substantial certainty the option will be exercised.
If the disqualified debt instrument of a corporation is payable in equity held by the issuer (or any related party) in any other person (other than a related party), the basis of such equity shall be increased by the amount not allowed as a deduction by reason of paragraph (1) with respect to the instrument.
For purposes of this subsection, the term “disqualified debt instrument” does not include indebtedness issued by a dealer in securities (or a related party) which is payable in, or by reference to, equity (other than equity of the issuer or a related party) held by such dealer in its capacity as a dealer in securities. For purposes of this paragraph, the term “dealer in securities” has the meaning given such term by section 475.
For purposes of this subsection, a person is a related party with respect to another person if such person bears a relationship to such other person described in section 267(b) or 707(b).
The Secretary shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of this subsection, including regulations preventing avoidance of this subsection through the use of an issuer other than a corporation.
No deduction shall be allowed under this chapter for any interest paid or accrued on a disqualified debt instrument.
For purposes of this subsection, the term “disqualified debt instrument” means any indebtedness of a corporation which is payable in equity of the issuer or a related party or equity held by the issuer (or any related party) in any other person.
For purposes of paragraph (2), indebtedness shall be treated as payable in equity of the issuer or any other person only if—
a substantial amount of the principal or interest is required to be paid or converted, or at the option of the issuer or a related party is payable in, or convertible into, such equity,
a substantial amount of the principal or interest is required to be determined, or at the option of the issuer or a related party is determined, by reference to the value of such equity, or
the indebtedness is part of an arrangement which is reasonably expected to result in a transaction described in subparagraph (A) or (B).
For purposes of this paragraph, principal or interest shall be treated as required to be so paid, converted, or determined if it may be required at the option of the holder or a related party and there is a substantial certainty the option will be exercised.
If the disqualified debt instrument of a corporation is payable in equity held by the issuer (or any related party) in any other person (other than a related party), the basis of such equity shall be increased by the amount not allowed as a deduction by reason of paragraph (1) with respect to the instrument.
For purposes of this subsection, the term “disqualified debt instrument” does not include indebtedness issued by a dealer in securities (or a related party) which is payable in, or by reference to, equity (other than equity of the issuer or a related party) held by such dealer in its capacity as a dealer in securities. For purposes of this paragraph, the term “dealer in securities” has the meaning given such term by section 475.
For purposes of this subsection, a person is a related party with respect to another person if such person bears a relationship to such other person described in section 267(b) or 707(b).
The Secretary shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of this subsection, including regulations preventing avoidance of this subsection through the use of an issuer other than a corporation.
No deduction shall be allowed under this chapter for any interest paid or accrued under section 6601 on any underpayment of tax which is attributable to the portion of any reportable transaction understatement (as defined in section 6662A(b)) with respect to which the requirement of section 6664(d)(2)(A) 1 is not met.
No deduction shall be allowed under this chapter for any interest paid or accrued under section 6601 on any underpayment of tax which is attributable to the portion of any reportable transaction understatement (as defined in section 6662A(b)) with respect to which the requirement of section 6664(d)(2)(A) 1 is not met.
For disallowance of certain amounts paid in connection with insurance, endowment, or annuity contracts, see section 264.
For disallowance of deduction for interest relating to tax-exempt income, see section 265(a)(2).
For disallowance of deduction for carrying charges chargeable to capital account, see section 266.
For disallowance of interest with respect to transactions between related taxpayers, see section 267.
For treatment of redeemable ground rents and real property held subject to liabilities under redeemable ground rents, see section 1055.
For disallowance of certain amounts paid in connection with insurance, endowment, or annuity contracts, see section 264.
For disallowance of deduction for interest relating to tax-exempt income, see section 265(a)(2).
For disallowance of deduction for carrying charges chargeable to capital account, see section 266.
For disallowance of interest with respect to transactions between related taxpayers, see section 267.
For treatment of redeemable ground rents and real property held subject to liabilities under redeemable ground rents, see section 1055.