[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 26, Volume 1]
[Revised as of April 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 26CFR1.48-2]

[Page 330-331]
 
                       TITLE 26--INTERNAL REVENUE
 
     CHAPTER I--INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
 
PART 1--INCOME TAXES--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 1.48-2  New section 38 property.

    (a) In general. Section 48(b) defines ``new section 38 property'' as 
section 38 property--
    (1) The construction, reconstruction, or erection of which is 
completed by the taxpayer after December 31, 1961, or
    (2) Which is acquired by the taxpayer after December 31, 1961, 
provided that the original use of such property commences with the 
taxpayer and commences after such date.

In the case of construction, reconstruction, or erection of such 
property commenced before January 1, 1962, and completed after December 
31, 1961, there shall be taken into account as the basis of new section 
38 property in determining qualified investment only that portion of the 
basis which is properly attributable to contruction, reconstruction, or 
erection after December 31, 1961. See Sec. 1.48-1 for the definition of 
section 38 property.
    (b) Special rules for determining date of acquisition, original use, 
and basis attributable to construction, reconstruction, or erection. For 
purposes of paragraph (a) of this section, the principles set forth in 
paragraphs (a) (1) and (2) of Sec. 1.167(c)-1 shall be applied. Thus, 
for example, the following rules are applicable:
    (1) Property is considered as constructed, reconstructed, or erected 
by the taxpayer if the work is done for him in accordance with his 
specifications.
    (2) The portion of the basis of property attributable to 
construction, reconstruction, or erection after December 31, 1961, 
consists of all costs of construction, reconstruction, or erection

[[Page 331]]

allocable to the period after December 31, 1961, including the cost or 
other basis of materials entering into such work (but not including, in 
the case of reconstruction of property, the adjusted basis of the 
reconstructed property as of the time such reconstruction is commenced).
    (3) It is not necessary that materials entering into construction, 
reconstruction, or erection be acquired after December 31, 1961, or that 
they be new in use.
    (4) If construction or erection by the taxpayer began after December 
31, 1961, the entire cost or other basis of such construction or 
erection may be taken into account as the basis of new section 38 
property.
    (5) Construction, reconstruction, or erection by the taxpayer begins 
when physical work is started on such construction, reconstruction, or 
erection.
    (6) Property shall be deemed to be acquired when reduced to physical 
possession, or control.
    (7) The term ``original use'' means the first use to which the 
property is put, whether or not such use corresponds to the use of such 
property by the taxpayer. For example, a reconditioned or rebuilt 
machine acquired by the taxpayer will not be treated as being put to 
original use by the taxpayer. The question of whether property is 
reconditioned or rebuilt property is a question of fact. Property will 
not be treated as reconditioned or rebuilt merely because it contains 
some used parts.

If the cost of reconstruction may properly either be capitalized and 
recovered through depreciation or charged against the depreciation 
reserve, such cost may be taken into account as the basis of new section 
38 property even though it is charged against the depreciation reserve.
    (c) Examples. This section may be illustrated by the following 
examples:

    Example 1. If a machine with a total cost of $100,000 is completed 
after December 31, 1961, and the portion attributable to construction by 
the taxpayer after December 31, 1961, is determined by engineering 
estimates or by cost accounting records to be $30,000, the $30,000 
amount shall be taken into account by the taxpayer in computing 
qualified investment in new section 38 property.
    Example 2. In 1965, a taxpayer reconditions a machine, which he 
constructed and placed in service in 1962 and which has an adjusted 
basis in 1965 of $10,000. The cost of reconditioning amounts to an 
additional $20,000. The basis of the machine which shall be taken into 
account in computing qualified investment in new section 38 property for 
1965 is $20,000, whether he contracts to have it reconditioned or 
reconditions it himself, and irrespective of whether the materials used 
for reconditioning are new in use.
    Example 3. In 1961, a taxpayer pays the entire purchase price of 
$10,000 for section 38 property to be delivered in 1962. In 1962 he 
takes possession of the property and commences the original use of the 
asset in that year. The $10,000 amount shall be taken into account in 
computing qualified investment in new section 38 property for 1962.
    Example 4. A taxpayer, instead of reconditioning his old machine, 
buys a ``factory reconditioned'' or ``rebuilt'' machine in 1962 to 
replace it. The reconditioned or rebuilt machine is not new section 38 
property since such taxpayer is not the first user of the machine. See, 
however, Sec. 1.48-3 (relating to used section 38 property).
    Example 5. In 1962, a taxpayer buys from X for $20,000 an item of 
section 38 property which has been previously used by X. The taxpayer in 
1962 makes an expenditure on the property of $5,000 of the type that 
must be capitalized. Regardless of whether the $5,000 is added to the 
basis of such property or is capitalized in a separate account, such 
amount shall be taken into account by the taxpayer in computing 
qualified investment in new section 38 property for 1962. No part of the 
$20,000 purchase price may be taken into account for such purpose. See, 
however, Sec. 1.48-3 (relating to used section 38 property).

    (d) Special rule for qualified rehabilitated buildings. 
Notwithstanding the rules in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this section, 
that portion of the basis of a qualified rehabilitated building 
attributable to qualified rehabilitation expenditures is treated as new 
section 38 property. See section 48(a)(1)(E) and (g), and Sec. 1.48-11.

[T.D. 6731, 29 FR 6076, May 8, 1964, as amended by T.D. 8031, 50 FR 
26698, June 28, 1985]