California Codes

Cal. Corporations Code § 500 (2026)

✓ current as of May 2026

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(a)Neither a corporation nor any of its subsidiaries shall make any distribution to the corporation’s shareholders (Section 166) unless the board of directors has determined in good faith either of the following:

(1)The amount of retained earnings of the corporation immediately prior to the distribution equals or exceeds the sum of (A) the amount of the proposed distribution plus (B) the preferential dividends arrears amount.

(2)Immediately after the distribution, the value of the corporation’s assets would equal or exceed the sum of its total liabilities plus the preferential rights amount.

(b)For the purpose of applying paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) to a distribution by a corporation, “preferential dividends arrears amount” means the amount, if any, of cumulative dividends in arrears on all shares having a preference with respect to payment of dividends over the class or series to which the applicable distribution is being made, provided that if the articles of incorporation provide that a distribution can be made without regard to preferential dividends arrears amount, then the preferential dividends arrears amount shall be zero. For the purpose of applying paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) to a distribution by a corporation, “preferential rights amount” means the amount that would be needed if the corporation were to be dissolved at the time of the distribution to satisfy the preferential rights, including accrued but unpaid dividends, of other shareholders upon dissolution that are superior to the rights of the shareholders receiving the distribution, provided that if the articles of incorporation provide that a distribution can be made without regard to any preferential rights, then the preferential rights amount shall be zero. In the case of a distribution of cash or property in payment by the corporation in connection with the purchase of its shares, (1) there shall be added to retained earnings all amounts that had been previously deducted therefrom with respect to obligations incurred in connection with the corporation’s repurchase of its shares and reflected on the corporation’s balance sheet, but not in excess of the principal of the obligations that remain unpaid immediately prior to the distribution and (2) there shall be deducted from liabilities all amounts that had been previously added thereto with respect to the obligations incurred in connection with the corporation’s repurchase of its shares and reflected on the corporation’s balance sheet, but not in excess of the principal of the obligations that will remain unpaid after the distribution, provided that no addition to retained earnings or deduction from liabilities under this subdivision shall occur on account of any obligation that is a distribution to the corporation’s shareholders (Section 166) at the time the obligation is incurred.

(c)The board of directors may base a determination that a distribution is not prohibited under subdivision (a) or under Section 501 on any of the following:

(1)Financial statements prepared on the basis of accounting practices and principles that are reasonable under the circumstances.

(2)A fair valuation.

(3)Any other method that is reasonable under the circumstances.

(d)The effect of a distribution under paragraph (1) or (2) of subdivision (a) is measured as of the date the distribution is authorized if the payment occurs within 120 days after the date of authorization.

(e)(1)If terms of indebtedness provide that payment of principal and interest is to be made only if, and to the extent that, payment of a distribution to shareholders could then be made under this section, indebtedness of a corporation, including indebtedness issued as a distribution, is not a liability for purposes of determinations made under paragraph (2) of subdivision (a).

(2)If indebtedness is issued as a distribution, each payment of principal or interest on the indebtedness shall be treated as a distribution, the effect of which is measured on the date the payment of the indebtedness is actually made.

(f)This section does not apply to a corporation licensed as a broker-dealer under Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 25210) of Part 3 of Division 1 of Title 4, if immediately after giving effect to any distribution the corporation is in compliance with the net capital rules of the Commissioner of Financial Protection and Innovation and the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 10 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1964–2025 · leading case: Arnold L. Kupetz, Tr. v. Morris A. Wolf, Raviel Wolf, the Marmon Grp., Inc., Defendants, 845 F.2d 842 (9th Cir. 1988).

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Arnold L. Kupetz, Tr. v. Morris A. Wolf, Raviel Wolf, the Marmon Grp., Inc., Defendants, 845 F.2d 842 (9th Cir. 1988). · cites it 5× “Cal.Corp.Code § 500 (West 1977 & Supp.1988).”

Aceituno v. Vowell, 518 B.R. 579 (E.D. Cal. 2014). · cites it 4× “Vowell; (2) recovery of corporate distributions, California Corporation Code section 500, against Mr.”

Credit Managers Ass'n of S. California v. Fed. Co., 629 F. Supp. 175 (C.D. Cal. 1986). “41 monthly debt service payments to Federal pursuant to the Note and the Deed of Trust were unlawful distributions to shareholders in violation of California Corporations Code §§ 500 and 501.”

Bay Plastics, Inc. v. BT Com. Corp. (In Re Bay Plastics, Inc.), 187 B.R. 315 (Bankr. C.D. Cal. 1995). “California Corporations Code § 500(b)(1) (West Supp.”

Maudlin v. Pac. Decision Sciences Corp., 2006 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 2384 (Cal. Ct. App. 2006). “In turn, Corp. Code § 500 provides that a corporation shall not make any distribution unless the tests already described are met either (as to the ‘retained earnings’ test) immediately prior to the distribution or (as to the ‘remaining assets’ test) immediately after giving…”

Nahman v. Jacks (In Re Jacks), 243 B.R. 385 (Bankr. C.D. Cal. 1999). · cites it 2× “Statutory Fiduciary Duties California Corporations Code §§ 500 and 501 prohibit a California corporation from making a distribution to its shareholders if the distribution renders the corporation insolvent.”

Tu-Vu Drive-In Corp. v. Ashkins, 391 P.2d 828 (Cal. 1964). “Corporations Code section 500 provides that ‘‘Bylaws may be adopted, amended, or repealed by the vote or the written assent of shareholders entitled to exercise a majority of the voting power of the corporation.”

Fed. Deposit Ins. Corp. v. Ching, 189 F. Supp. 3d 978 (E.D. Cal. 2016). “That section provides, “Any shareholder who receives any distribution prohibited by this chapter [Corporations Code sections 500 through 511] with knowledge of facts indicating the impropriety thereof is liable to the corporation for the benefit of all of the creditors or…”

(BK) In Re: Clark (E.D. Cal. 2019). · cites it 2× “discretion when it granted the Corporation’s request to undertake Rule 2004 24 examinations of Appellants, denied Appellants’ motion to quash their subpoenas for the Rule 25 2004 examinations, and denied Appellants’ motion to amend the denial of their motion to quash; 26 (5) the…”

Scottsdale Ins. Co. v. Beachcomber Mgmt. Crystal Cove, LLC (C.D. Cal. 2025). · cites it 2× “Cc e breach of fiduciary duty; e recovery of illegal dividends under Cal. Corp. Code §§ 500 , 501, & 506; ° disallowance of proofs of claim pursuant to 11 U.”

— Cal. Corporations Code § 500(b)(1) — 1 case

Bay Plastics, Inc. v. BT Com. Corp. (In Re Bay Plastics, Inc.), 187 B.R. 315 (Bankr. C.D. Cal. 1995). “California Corporations Code § 500(b)(1) (West Supp.”

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