26 U.S.C. § 351
Transfer to corporation controlled by transferor
No gain or loss shall be recognized if property is transferred to a corporation by one or more persons solely in exchange for stock in such corporation and immediately after the exchange such person or persons are in control (as defined in section 368(c)) of the corporation.
In determining control for purposes of this section, the fact that any corporate transferor distributes part or all of the stock in the corporation which it receives in the exchange to its shareholders shall not be taken into account.
If the requirements of section 355 (or so much of section 356 as relates to section 355) are met with respect to a distribution described in paragraph (1), then, solely for purposes of determining the tax treatment of the transfers of property to the controlled corporation by the distributing corporation, the fact that the shareholders of the distributing corporation dispose of part or all of the distributed stock, or the fact that the corporation whose stock was distributed issues additional stock, shall not be taken into account in determining control for purposes of this section.
A transfer of property of a debtor pursuant to a plan while the debtor is under the jurisdiction of a court in a title 11 or similar case (within the meaning of section 368(a)(3)(A)), to the extent that the stock received in the exchange is used to satisfy the indebtedness of such debtor.
Clauses (i), (ii), and (iii) of subparagraph (A) shall apply only if the right or obligation referred to therein may be exercised within the 20-year period beginning on the issue date of such stock and such right or obligation is not subject to a contingency which, as of the issue date, makes remote the likelihood of the redemption or purchase.
The term “preferred stock” means stock which is limited and preferred as to dividends and does not participate in corporate growth to any significant extent. Stock shall not be treated as participating in corporate growth to any significant extent unless there is a real and meaningful likelihood of the shareholder actually participating in the earnings and growth of the corporation. If there is not a real and meaningful likelihood that dividends beyond any limitation or preference will actually be paid, the possibility of such payments will be disregarded in determining whether stock is limited and preferred as to dividends.
A person shall be treated as related to another person if they bear a relationship to such other person described in section 267(b) or 707(b).
The Secretary may prescribe such regulations as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of this subsection and sections 354(a)(2)(C), 355(a)(3)(D), and 356(e). The Secretary may also prescribe regulations, consistent with the treatment under this subsection and such sections, for the treatment of nonqualified preferred stock under other provisions of this title.
2005—Subsec. (g)(3)(A). Pub. L. 109–135 inserted at end “If there is not a real and meaningful likelihood that dividends beyond any limitation or preference will actually be paid, the possibility of such payments will be disregarded in determining whether stock is limited and preferred as to dividends.”
2004—Subsec. (g)(3)(A). Pub. L. 108–357 inserted at end “Stock shall not be treated as participating in corporate growth to any significant extent unless there is a real and meaningful likelihood of the shareholder actually participating in the earnings and growth of the corporation.”
2002—Subsec. (h)(1). Pub. L. 107–147 inserted comma after “liability”.
1999—Subsec. (h)(1). Pub. L. 106–36 struck out “, or acquires property subject to a liability,” after “liability”.
1998—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 105–206, § 6010(c)(3)(A), reenacted heading without change and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “In determining control for purposes of this section—
“(1) the fact that any corporate transferor distributes part or all of the stock in the corporation which it receives in the exchange to its shareholders shall not be taken into account, and
“(2) if the requirements of section 355 are met with respect to such distribution, the shareholders shall be treated as in control of such corporation immediately after the exchange if the shareholders own (immediately after the distribution) stock possessing—
“(A) more than 50 percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of such corporation entitled to vote, and
“(B) more than 50 percent of the total value of shares of all classes of stock of such corporation.”
Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 105–277 inserted “, or the fact that the corporation whose stock was distributed issues additional stock,” after “dispose of part or all of the distributed stock”.
Subsec. (g)(1)(A) to (C). Pub. L. 105–206, § 6010(e)(1), inserted “and” at end of subpar. (A), added subpar. (B), and struck out former subpars. (B) and (C) which read as follows:
“(B) subsection (b) shall apply to such transferor, and
“(C) such nonqualified preferred stock shall be treated as other property for purposes of applying subsection (b).”
1997—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 105–34, § 1012(c)(1), amended heading and text of subsec. (c) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “In determining control, for purposes of this section, the fact that any corporate transferor distributes part or all of the stock which it receives in the exchange to its shareholders shall not be taken into account.”
Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 105–34, § 1002(a), inserted last two sentences.
Subsecs. (g), (h). Pub. L. 105–34, § 1014(a), added subsec. (g) and redesignated former subsec. (g) as (h).
1990—Subsec. (e)(2). Pub. L. 101–508 substituted “is used” for “are used”.
1989—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 101–239, § 7203(a), struck out “or securities” after “stock”.
Subsecs. (b), (d), (e)(2). Pub. L. 101–239, § 7203(b)(1), struck out “or securities” after “stock”.
Subsec. (g)(2). Pub. L. 101–239, § 7203(b)(2), substituted “stock or property” for “stock, securities, or property”.
1988—Subsecs. (f), (g). Pub. L. 100–647 added subsec. (f) and redesignated former subsec. (f) as (g).
1982—Subsec. (f)(5). Pub. L. 97–248 added par. (5).
1980—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 96–589, § 5(e)(2), struck out provision that stock or securities issued for services shall not be considered as issued in return for property for purposes of this section.
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 96–589, § 5(e)(1), added subsec. (d). Former subsec. (d) redesignated (e)(1).
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 96–589, § 5(e)(2), redesignated former subsec. (d) as par. (1) and added par. (2). Former subsec. (e) redesignated (f).
Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 96–589, § 5(e)(1), redesignated former subsec. (e) as (f).
1976—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 94–455, § 1901(a)(48)(A), struck out “(including, in the case of transfers made on or before
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 94–455, § 1901(a)(48)(B), among other changes, substituted “Exception” for “Application of
1966—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 89–809, § 203(a), inserted “(including, in the case of transfers made on or before
Subsecs. (d), (e). Pub. L. 89–809, § 203(b), added subsec. (d) and redesignated former subsec. (d) as (e).
Amendment by Pub. L. 109–135 effective as if included in the provision of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, Pub. L. 108–357, to which such amendment relates, see section 403(nn) of Pub. L. 109–135, set out as a note under section 26 of this title.
Pub. L. 108–357, title VIII, § 899(b),
Pub. L. 106–36, title III, § 3001(e),
Amendment by Pub. L. 105–277 effective as if included in the provision of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, Pub. L. 105–34, to which such amendment relates, see section 4003(l) of Pub. L. 105–277, set out as a note under section 86 of this title.
Amendment by Pub. L. 105–206 effective, except as otherwise provided, as if included in the provisions of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, Pub. L. 105–34, to which such amendment relates, see section 6024 of Pub. L. 105–206, set out as a note under section 1 of this title.
Pub. L. 105–34, title X, § 1002(b),
Pub. L. 105–34, title X, § 1012(d),
Pub. L. 105–34, title X, § 1014(f),
Pub. L. 101–239, title VII, § 7203(c),
Pub. L. 100–647, title I, § 1018(d)(5)(G),
Amendment by Pub. L. 97–248 applicable to transfers occurring after
Amendment by Pub. L. 96–589 applicable to transactions which occur after
Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, § 1901(a)(48)(C),
Pub. L. 89–809, title II, § 203(c),