26 U.S.C. § 174
Section 174 · Research and experimental expenditures
Current version, with additions and removals from the December 19, 2014 version.
Current — July 4, 2025
As of December 19, 2014
(a) Treatment as expenses (1) In general A taxpayer may treat research or experimental expenditures which are paid or incurred by him during the taxable year in connection with his trade or business as expenses which are not chargeable to capital account. The expenditures so treated shall be allowed as a deduction. (2) When method may be adopted (A) Without consent A taxpayer may, without the consent of the Secretary, adopt the method provided in this subsection for his first taxable year for which expenditures described in paragraph (1) are paid or incurred. (B) With consent A taxpayer may, with the consent of the Secretary, adopt at any time the method provided in this subsection. (3) Scope The method adopted under this subsection shall apply to all expenditures described in paragraph (1). The method adopted shall be adhered to in computing taxable income for the taxable year and for all subsequent taxable years unless, with the approval of the Secretary, a change to a different method is authorized with respect to part or all of such expenditures.
(a) In general In the case of a taxpayer’s foreign research or experimental expenditures for any taxable year— (1) except as provided in paragraph (2), no deduction shall be allowed for such expenditures, and (2) the taxpayer shall— (A) charge such expenditures to capital account, and (B) be allowed an amortization deduction of such expenditures ratably over the 15-year period beginning with the midpoint of the taxable year in which such expenditures are paid or incurred.
(b) Amortization of certain research and experimental expenditures (1) In general At the election of the taxpayer, made in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary, research or experimental expenditures which are— (A) paid or incurred by the taxpayer in connection with his trade or business, (B) not treated as expenses under subsection (a), and (C) chargeable to capital account but not chargeable to property of a character which is subject to the allowance under section 167 (relating to allowance for depreciation, etc.) or section 611 (relating to allowance for depletion), may be treated as deferred expenses. In computing taxable income, such deferred expenses shall be allowed as a deduction ratably over such period of not less than 60 months as may be selected by the taxpayer (beginning with the month in which the taxpayer first realizes benefits from such expenditures). Such deferred expenses are expenditures properly chargeable to capital account for purposes of section 1016(a)(1) (relating to adjustments to basis of property). (2) Time for and scope of election The election provided by paragraph (1) may be made for any taxable year, but only if made not later than the time prescribed by law for filing the return for such taxable year (including extensions thereof). The method so elected, and the period selected by the taxpayer, shall be adhered to in computing taxable income for the taxable year for which the election is made and for all subsequent taxable years unless, with the approval of the Secretary, a change to a different method (or to a different period) is authorized with respect to part or all of such expenditures. The election shall not apply to any expenditure paid or incurred during any taxable year before the taxable year for which the taxpayer makes the election.
(b) Foreign research or experimental expenditures For purposes of this section, the term “foreign research or experimental expenditures” means, with respect to any taxable year, research or experimental expenditures which are paid or incurred by the taxpayer during such taxable year in connection with the taxpayer’s trade or business and which are attributable to foreign research (within the meaning of section 41(d)(4)(F)).
(c) Land and other property This section shall not apply to any expenditure for the acquisition or improvement of land, or for the acquisition or improvement of property to be used in connection with the research or experimentation and of a character which is subject to the allowance under section 167 (relating to allowance for depreciation, etc.) or section 611 (relating to allowance for depletion); but for purposes of this section allowances under section 167, and allowances under section 611, shall be considered as expenditures.
(c) Special rules (1) Land and other property This section shall not apply to any expenditure for the acquisition or improvement of land, or for the acquisition or improvement of property to be used in connection with the research or experimentation and of a character which is subject to the allowance under section 167 (relating to allowance for depreciation, etc.) or section 611 (relating to allowance for depletion); but for purposes of this section allowances under section 167, and allowances under section 611, shall be considered as expenditures. (2) Exploration expenditures This section shall not apply to any expenditure paid or incurred for the purpose of ascertaining the existence, location, extent, or quality of any deposit of ore or other mineral (including oil and gas). (3) Software development For purposes of this section, any amount paid or incurred in connection with the development of any software shall be treated as a research or experimental expenditure.
(d) Exploration expenditures This section shall not apply to any expenditure paid or incurred for the purpose of ascertaining the existence, location, extent, or quality of any deposit of ore or other mineral (including oil and gas).
(d) Treatment upon disposition, retirement, or abandonment If any property with respect to which foreign research or experimental expenditures are paid or incurred is disposed, retired, or abandoned during the period during which such expenditures are allowed as an amortization deduction under this section, no deduction or reduction to amount realized shall be allowed with respect to such expenditures on account of such disposition, retirement, or abandonment and such amortization deduction shall continue with respect to such expenditures.
(e) Only reasonable research expenditures eligible
This section shall apply to a research or experimental expenditure only to the extent that the amount thereof is reasonable under the circumstances.
(f) Cross references
(1)
For adjustments to basis of property for amounts allowed as deductions as deferred expenses under subsection (b), see section 1016(a)(14).
(2)
For election of 10-year amortization of expenditures allowable as a deduction under subsection (a), see section 59(e).