26 U.S.C. § 451
General rule for taxable year of inclusion
The amount of any item of gross income shall be included in the gross income for the taxable year in which received by the taxpayer, unless, under the method of accounting used in computing taxable income, such amount is to be properly accounted for as of a different period.
For purposes of this section, the all events test is met with respect to any item of gross income if all the events have occurred which fix the right to receive such income and the amount of such income can be determined with reasonable accuracy.
Paragraph (1) shall not apply with respect to any item of gross income for which the taxpayer uses a special method of accounting provided under any other provision of this chapter, other than any provision of part V of subchapter P (except as provided in clause (ii) of paragraph (1)(B)).
For purposes of this subsection, in the case of a contract which contains multiple performance obligations, the allocation of the transaction price to each performance obligation shall be equal to the amount allocated to each performance obligation for purposes of including such item in revenue in the applicable financial statement of the taxpayer.
For purposes of paragraph (1), if the financial results of a taxpayer are reported on the applicable financial statement (as defined in paragraph (3)) for a group of entities, such statement shall be treated as the applicable financial statement of the taxpayer.
Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, the election under paragraph (1)(B) shall be made at such time, in such form and manner, and with respect to such categories of advance payments, as the Secretary may provide.
An election under paragraph (1)(B) shall be effective for the taxable year with respect to which it is first made and for all subsequent taxable years, unless the taxpayer secures the consent of the Secretary to revoke such election. For purposes of this title, the computation of taxable income under an election made under paragraph (1)(B) shall be treated as a method of accounting.
Except as otherwise provided by the Secretary, the election under paragraph (1)(B) shall not apply with respect to advance payments received by the taxpayer during a taxable year if such taxpayer ceases to exist during (or with the close of) such taxable year.
For purposes of this subsection, an item of gross income is received by the taxpayer if it is actually or constructively received, or if it is due and payable to the taxpayer.
For purposes of this subsection, rules similar to subsection (b)(4) shall apply.
In the case of the death of a taxpayer whose taxable income is computed under an accrual method of accounting, any amount accrued only by reason of the death of the taxpayer shall not be included in computing taxable income for the period in which falls the date of the taxpayer’s death.
For purposes of subsection (a), tips included in a written statement furnished an employer by an employee pursuant to section 6053(a) shall be deemed to be received at the time the written statement including such tips is furnished to the employer.
In the case of insurance proceeds received as a result of destruction or damage to crops, a taxpayer reporting on the cash receipts and disbursements method of accounting may elect to include such proceeds in income for the taxable year following the taxable year of destruction or damage, if he establishes that, under his practice, income from such crops would have been reported in a following taxable year. For purposes of the preceding sentence, payments received under the Agricultural Act of 1949, as amended, or title II of the Disaster Assistance Act of 1988, as a result of (1) destruction or damage to crops caused by drought, flood, or any other natural disaster, or (2) the inability to plant crops because of such a natural disaster shall be treated as insurance proceeds received as a result of destruction or damage to crops. An election under this subsection for any taxable year shall be made at such time and in such manner as the Secretary prescribes.
In the case of income derived from the sale or exchange of livestock in excess of the number the taxpayer would sell if he followed his usual business practices, a taxpayer reporting on the cash receipts and disbursements method of accounting may elect to include such income for the taxable year following the taxable year in which such sale or exchange occurs if he establishes that, under his usual business practices, the sale or exchange would not have occurred in the taxable year in which it occurred if it were not for drought, flood, or other weather-related conditions, and that such conditions had resulted in the area being designated as eligible for assistance by the Federal Government.
Paragraph (1) shall apply only to a taxpayer whose principal trade or business is farming (within the meaning of section 6420(c)(3)).
If section 1033(e)(2) applies to a sale or exchange of livestock described in paragraph (1), the election under paragraph (1) shall be deemed valid if made during the replacement period described in such section.
In the case of a taxpayer the taxable income of which is computed under an accrual method of accounting, any income attributable to the sale or furnishing of utility services to customers shall be included in gross income not later than the taxable year in which such services are provided to such customers.
Any interest not included in gross income by reason of paragraph (1) shall be treated as credited in the next calendar year.
No deduction shall be allowed to any qualified financial institution for interest not includible in gross income under paragraph (1) until such interest is includible in gross income.
For purposes of this subsection, the terms “qualified individual”, “qualified financial institution”, and “deposit” have the same respective meanings as when used in section 165(l).
For purposes of this title, in the case of an individual on the cash receipts and disbursements method of accounting, a qualified prize option shall be disregarded in determining the taxable year for which any portion of the qualified prize is properly includible in gross income of the taxpayer.
The Secretary shall provide for the application of this subsection in the case of a partnership or other pass-through entity consisting entirely of individuals described in paragraph (1).
Acquisition of control of a corporation shall be taken into account under this subsection with respect to a qualifying electric transmission transaction only if the principal trade or business of such corporation is a trade or business referred to in subparagraph (A).
The term “exempt utility property” shall not include any property which is located outside the United States.
In the case of a corporation which is a member of an affiliated group filing a consolidated return, any exempt utility property purchased by another member of such group shall be treated as purchased by such corporation for purposes of applying paragraph (1)(A).
For purposes of this subsection, the taxpayer shall be considered to have purchased any property if the unadjusted basis of such property is its cost within the meaning of section 1012.
An election under paragraph (1) shall be made at such time and in such manner as the Secretary may require and, once made, shall be irrevocable.
Section 453 shall not apply to any qualifying electric transmission transaction with respect to which an election to apply this subsection is made.
The Agricultural Act of 1949, as amended, referred to in subsec. (f), is act Oct. 31, 1949, ch. 792, 63 Stat. 1051, which is classified principally to chapter 35A (§ 1421 et seq.) of Title 7, Agriculture. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1421 of Title 7 and Tables.
The Disaster Assistance Act of 1988, referred to in subsec. (f), is Pub. L. 100–387,
2019—Subsec. (k)(3). Pub. L. 116–94 substituted “
2018—Subsec. (k)(3). Pub. L. 115–123 substituted “
2017—Subsecs. (b) to (k). Pub. L. 115–97 first added subsec. (b) and then added subsec. (c) and correspondingly redesignated former subsecs. (b) to (i) first as (c) to (j) and then as (d) to (k), respectively.
2015—Subsec. (i)(3). Pub. L. 114–113 substituted “
2014—Subsec. (i)(3). Pub. L. 113–295 substituted “
2013—Subsec. (i)(3). Pub. L. 112–240 substituted “
2010—Subsec. (i)(3). Pub. L. 111–312 substituted “
2008—Subsec. (i)(3). Pub. L. 110–343, § 109(a)(1), inserted “(before
Subsec. (i)(4)(B)(ii). Pub. L. 110–343, § 109(b), substituted “the date which is 4 years after the close of the taxable year in which the transaction occurs” for “
Subsec. (i)(5)(C). Pub. L. 110–343, § 109(c), added subpar. (C).
Subsec. (i)(6) to (11). Pub. L. 110–343, § 109(a)(2), added par. (6) and redesignated former pars. (6) to (10) as (7) to (11), respectively.
2005—Subsec. (i)(3). Pub. L. 109–58, § 1305(a), substituted “2008” for “2007” in introductory provisions.
Subsec. (i)(4)(B)(ii). Pub. L. 109–58, § 1305(b), substituted “
2004—Subsec. (e)(3). Pub. L. 108–357, § 311(c), added par. (3).
Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 108–357, § 909(a), added subsec. (i).
1998—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 105–277 added subsec. (h).
1997—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 105–34 inserted “, flood, or other weather-related conditions” after “drought” in heading and substituted “drought, flood, or other weather-related conditions, and that such conditions” for “drought conditions, and that these drought conditions” in par. (1).
1988—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 100–647, § 6033(a), inserted “or title II of the Disaster Assistance Act of 1988,” after “the Agricultural Act of 1949, as amended,”.
Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 100–647, § 6030(a), struck out “(other than livestock described in section 1231(b)(3))” after “exchange of livestock”.
Subsecs. (f), (g). Pub. L. 100–647, § 1009(d)(3), redesignated subsec. (f), relating to treatment of interest on frozen deposits in certain financial institutions, as (g).
1986—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 99–514, § 905(b), added subsec. (f) relating to treatment of interest on frozen deposits in certain financial institutions.
Pub. L. 99–514, § 821(a), added subsec. (f) relating to special rule for utility services.
1976—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 94–455, §§ 1906(b)(13)(A), 2102(a), (b), inserted reference to disaster payments in heading, provided that payments received under the Agricultural Act of 1949, as amended, be treated as insurance proceeds received as a result of destruction or damage to crops if the payments are received as the result of destruction or damage from drought, flood, or other natural disaster, or as the result of inability to plant crops because of drought, flood, or other natural disaster, and struck out “or his delegate” after “Secretary”.
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 94–455, § 2141(a), added subsec. (e).
1969—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 91–172 added subsec. (d).
1965—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 89–97 added subsec. (c).
Pub. L. 116–94, div. Q, title I, § 132(b),
Pub. L. 115–123, div. D, title I, § 40414(b),
Pub. L. 115–97, title I, § 13221(c)–(e),
Pub. L. 114–113, div. Q, title I, § 191(b),
Pub. L. 113–295, div. A, title I, § 159(b),
Pub. L. 112–240, title IV, § 411(b),
Pub. L. 109–58, title XIII, § 1305(c),
Pub. L. 111–312, title VII, § 705(b),
Pub. L. 110–343, div. B, title I, § 109(d),
Pub. L. 108–357, title III, § 311(d),
Pub. L. 108–357, title VIII, § 909(b),
Pub. L. 105–277, div. J, title V, § 5301(b),
Pub. L. 105–34, title IX, § 913(c),
Amendment by section 1009(d)(3) 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. 100–647, title VI, § 6030(b),
Pub. L. 100–647, title VI, § 6033(b),
Pub. L. 99–514, title VIII, § 821(b),
Pub. L. 99–514, title IX, § 905(c),
Pub. L. 94–455, title XXI, § 2102(c),
Pub. L. 94–455, title XXI, § 2141(b),
Pub. L. 91–172, title II, § 215(b),
Amendment by Pub. L. 89–97 applicable only with respect to tips received by employees after 1965, see section 313(f) of Pub. L. 89–97, set out as an Effective Date note under section 6053 of this title.
Voluntary separation incentives paid to members of Armed Forces under 10 U.S.C. 1175 as includable in gross income only for taxable year in which incentive is paid, see section 662(b) of Pub. L. 102–190, set out as a note under section 1175 of Title 10, Armed Forces.
For provisions relating to credit or refund of overpayments of tax, and assessment of underpayments of tax, due to amendments by section 905 of Pub. L. 99–514 or section 1009(d) of Pub. L. 100–647, see section 1009(d)(4) of Pub. L. 100–647, set out as a note under section 165 of this title.
Pub. L. 97–248, title II, § 229, “If the taxable year begins in calendar year: The applicable percentage is: 1983 33⅓ 1984 66⅔ 1985 or thereafter 100.
Pub. L. 95–600, title I, § 132,
Pub. L. 95–258, § 1,