[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 26, Volume 13]
[Revised as of April 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 26CFR]

[Page 16-19]
 
                       TITLE 26--INTERNAL REVENUE
 
    CHAPTER I--INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY 
                               (CONTINUED)
 
RELATED RULES--Table of Contents
 
Sec.  1.1552-1  Earnings and profits.

    (a) General rule. For the purpose of determining the earnings and 
profits of each member of an affiliated group which is required to be 
included in a consolidated return for such group filed for a taxable 
year beginning after December 31, 1953, and ending after August 16, 
1954, the tax liability of the group shall be allocated among the 
members of the group in accordance with one of the following methods, 
pursuant to an election under paragraph (c) of this section:
    (1)(i) The tax liability of the group shall be apportioned among the 
members of the group in accordance with the ratio which that portion of 
the consolidated taxable income attributable to each member of the group 
having taxable income bears to the consolidated taxable income.
    (ii) For consolidated return years beginning after December 31, 
1965, a member's portion of the tax liability of the group under the 
method of allocation provided by subdivision (i) of this subparagraph is 
an amount equal to the tax liability of the group multiplied by a 
fraction, the numerator of which is the taxable income of such member, 
and the denominator of which is the sum of the taxable incomes of all 
the members. For purposes of this subdivision the taxable income of a 
member shall be the separate taxable income determined under Sec.  
1.1502-12, adjusted for the following items taken into account in the 
computation of consolidated taxable income:
    (a) The portion of the consolidated net operating loss deduction, 
the consolidated charitable contributions deduction, the consolidated 
dividends received deduction, the consolidated section 247 deduction, 
the consolidated section 582(c) net loss, and the consolidated section 
922 deduction, attributable to such member;
    (b) Such member's capital gain net income (net capital gain for 
taxable years beginning before January 1, 1977) (determined without 
regard to any net capital loss carryover attributable to such member);
    (c) Such member's net capital loss and section 1231 net loss, 
reduced by the portion of the consolidated net capital loss attributable 
to such member; and
    (d) The portion of any consolidated net capital loss carryover 
attributable to such member which is absorbed in the taxable year.

If the computation of the taxable income of a member under this 
subdivision results in an excess of deductions over gross income, then 
for purposes of this subdivision such member's taxable income shall be 
zero.
    (2)(i) The tax liability of the group shall be allocated to the 
several members of the group on the basis of the percentage of the total 
tax which the tax of such member if computed on a separate return would 
bear to the total amount of the taxes for all members of the group so 
computed.
    (ii) For consolidated return years beginning after December 31, 
1965, a member's portion of the tax liability of the group under the 
method of allocation provided by subdivision (i) of this subparagraph is 
an amount equal to the tax liability of the group multiplied by a 
fraction, the numerator of which is the separate return tax liability of 
such member, and the denominator of which is the sum of the separate 
return tax liabilities of all the members. For purposes of this 
subdivision the separate return tax liability of a member is its tax 
liability computed as if it has filed a separate return for the year 
except that:
    (a) Gains and losses on intercompany transactions shall be taken 
into account as provided in Sec.  1.1502-13 as if a consolidated return 
had been filed for the year;
    (b) Gains and losses relating to inventory adjustments shall be 
taken into account as provided in Sec.  1.1502-18 as if a consolidated 
return had been filed for the year;
    (c) Transactions with respect to stock, bonds, or other obligations 
of members shall be reflected as provided in Sec.  1.1502-13 (f) and (g) 
as if a consolidated return had been filed for the year;

[[Page 17]]

    (d) Excess losses shall be included in income as provided in Sec.  
1.1502-19 as if a consolidated return had been filed for the year;
    (e) In the computation of the deduction under section 167, property 
shall not lose its character as new property as a result of a transfer 
from one member to another member during the year;
    (f) A dividend distributed by one member to another member during 
the year shall not be taken into account in computing the deductions 
under section 243(a)(1), 244(a), 245, or 247 (relating to deductions 
with respect to dividends received and dividends paid);
    (g) Basis shall be determined under Sec. Sec.  1.1502-31 and 1.1502-
32, and earnings and profits shall be determined under Sec.  1.1502-33, 
as if a consolidated return had been filed for the year;
    (h) Subparagraph (2) of Sec.  1.1502-3(f) shall apply as if a 
consolidated return had been filed for the year; and
    (i) For purposes of Subtitle A of the Code, the surtax exemption of 
the member shall be an amount equal to $25,000 ($50,000 in the case of a 
taxable year ending in 1975), divided by the number of members (or such 
portion of $25,000 or $50,000 which is apportioned to the member 
pursuant to a schedule attached to the consolidated return for the 
taxable year). (However, if for the taxable year some or all of the 
members are component members of a controlled group of corporations 
(within the meaning of section 1563) and if there are other such 
component members which do not join in filing the consolidated return 
for such year, the amount to be divided among the members filing the 
consolidated return shall be (in lieu of $25,000 or $50,000) the sum of 
the amounts apportioned to the component members which join in filing 
the consolidated return (as determined for taxable years beginning after 
December 31, 1974 under Sec.  1.1561-2(a)(2) or Sec.  1.1561-3, 
whichever is applicable, and for taxable years beginning before January 
1, 1975, under Sec.  1.561-2A(a)(2) or Sec.  1.1561-3A whichever is 
applicable).)

If the computation of the separate return tax liability of a member 
under this subdivision does not result in a positive tax liability, then 
for purposes of this subdivision such member's separate return tax 
liability shall be zero.
    (3)(i) The tax liability of the group (excluding the tax increases 
arising from the consolidation) shall be allocated on the basis of the 
contribution of each member of the group to the consolidated taxable 
income of the group. Any tax increases arising from the consolidation 
shall be distributed to the several members in direct proportion to the 
reduction in tax liability resulting to such members from the filing of 
the consolidated return as measured by the difference between their tax 
liabilities determined on a separate return basis and their tax 
liabilities (determined without regard to the 2-percent increase 
provided by section 1503(a) and paragraph (a) of Sec.  1.1502-30A (as 
contained in the 26 CFR edition revised as of April 1, 1996) for taxable 
years beginning before January 1, 1964) based on their contributions to 
the consolidated taxable income.
    (ii) For consolidated return years beginning after December 31, 
1965, a member's portion of the tax liability of the group under the 
method of allocation provided by subdivision (i) of this subparagraph 
shall be determined by:
    (a) Allocating the tax liability of the group in accordance with 
subparagraph (1)(ii) of this paragraph, but
    (b) The amount of tax liability allocated to any member shall not 
exceed the separate return tax liability of such member, determined in 
accordance with subparagraph (2)(ii) of this paragraph, and
    (c) The sum of the amounts which would be allocated to the members 
but for (b) of this subdivision (ii) shall be apportioned among the 
other members in direct proportion to, but limited to, the reduction in 
tax liability resulting to such other members. Such reduction for any 
member shall be the excess, if any, of (1) its separate this paragraph.
    (4) The tax liability of the group shall be allocated in accordance 
with any other method selected by the group with the approval of the 
Commissioner. No method of allocation may be approved under this 
subparagraph which may result in the allocation of a positive tax 
liability for a taxable year, among the members who are allocated a 
positive tax liability for

[[Page 18]]

such year, in a total amount which is more or less than the tax 
liability of the group for such year. (However, see paragraph (d) of 
Sec.  1.1502-33.)
    (b) Application of rules--(1) Tax liability of the group. For 
purposes of section 1552 and this section, the tax liability of the 
group for a taxable year shall consist of the Federal income tax 
liability of the group for such year determined in accordance with Sec.  
1.1502-2 or Sec.  1.1502-30A (as contained in the 26 CFR edition revised 
as of April 1, 1996), which-ever is applicable. Thus, in the case of a 
carryback of a loss or credit to such year, although the earnings and 
profits of the members of the group may not be adjusted until the 
subsequent taxable year from which the loss or credit was carried back, 
the effect of the carryback, for purposes of this section, shall be 
determined by allocating the amount of the adjustment as a part of the 
tax liability of the group for the taxable year to which the loss or 
credit is carried. For example, if a consolidated net operating loss is 
carried back from 1969 to 1967, the allocation of the tax liability of 
the group for 1967 shall be recomputed in accordance with the method of 
allocation used for 1967, and the changes resulting from such 
recomputation shall, for accrual method taxpayers, be reflected in the 
earnings and profits of the appropriate members in 1969.
    (2) Effect of allocation. The amount of tax liability allocated to a 
corporation as its share of the tax liability of the group, pursuant to 
this section, shall (i) result in a decrease in the earnings and profits 
of such corporation in such amount, and (ii) be treated as a liability 
of such corporation for such amount. If the full amount of such 
liability is not paid by such corporation, pursuant to an agreement 
among the members of the group or otherwise, the amount which is not 
paid will generally be treated as a distribution with respect to stock, 
a contribution to capital, or a combination thereof, as the case may be.
    (c) Method of election. (1) The election under paragraph (a) (1), 
(2), or (3) of this section shall be made not later than the time 
prescribed by law for filing the first consolidated return of the group 
for a taxable year beginning after December 31, 1953, and ending after 
August 16, 1954 (including extensions thereof). If the group elects to 
allocate its tax liability in accordance with the method prescribed in 
paragraph (a) (1), (2), or (3) of this section, a statement shall be 
attached to the return stating which method is elected. Such statement 
shall be made by the common parent corporation and shall be binding upon 
all members of the group. In the event that the group desires to 
allocate its tax liability in accordance with any other method pursuant 
to paragraph (a)(4) of this section, approval of such method by the 
Commissioner must be obtained within the time prescribed above. If such 
approval is not obtained in such time, the group shall allocate in 
accordance with the method prescribed in paragraph (a)(1) of this 
section. The request shall state fully the method which the group wishes 
to apply in apportioning the tax liability. Except as provided in 
subparagraph (2) of this paragraph, an election once made shall be 
irrevocable and shall be binding upon the group with respect to the year 
for which made and for all future years for which a consolidated return 
is filed or required to be filed unless the Commissioner authorizes a 
change to another method prior to the time prescribed by law for filing 
the return for the year in which such change is to be effective.
    (2) Each group may make a new election to use any one of the methods 
prescribed in paragraph (a) (1), (2), or (3) of this section for its 
first consolidated return year beginning after December 31, 1965, or in 
conjunction with an election under paragraph (d) of Sec.  1.1502-33, or 
may request the Commissioner's approval of a method under paragraph 
(a)(4) of this section for its first consolidated return year beginning 
after December 31, 1965, irrespective of its previous method of 
allocation under this section. If such new election is not made in 
conjunction with an election under paragraph (d) of Sec.  1.1502-33, it 
shall be effective for the first consolidated return year beginning 
after December 31, 1965, and all succeeding years. (See Sec.  1.1502-33 
for the method of making such new election in conjunction with an 
election under paragraph (d) of Sec.  1.1502-33.) Any other such new

[[Page 19]]

election (or request for the Commissioner's approval of a method under 
paragraph (a)(4) of this section) shall be made within the time 
prescribed by law for filing the consolidated return for the first 
taxable year beginning after December 31, 1965 (including extensions 
thereof), or within 60 days after July 3, 1968, whichever is later. Such 
new election shall be made by attaching a statement to the consolidated 
return for the first taxable year beginning after December 31, 1965, or 
if such election is made within the time prescribed above but after such 
return is filed, by filing a statement with the internal revenue officer 
with whom such return was filed.
    (d) Failure to elect. If a group fails to make an election in its 
first consolidated return, or any other election, in accordance with 
paragraph (c) of this section, the method prescribed under paragraph 
(a)(1) of this section shall be applicable and shall be binding upon the 
group in the same manner as if an election had been made to so allocate.
    (e) Definitions. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the 
terms used in this section shall have the same meaning as provided in 
the regulations under section 1502.
    (f) Example. The provisions of this section may be illustrated by 
the following example:

    Example. Corporation P is the common parent owning all of the stock 
of corporations S1 and S2, members of an affiliated group. A 
consolidated return is filed for the taxable year ending December 31, 
1966, by P, S1, and S2. For 1966 such corporations had the following 
taxable incomes or losses computed in accordance with paragraph 
(a)(1)(ii) of this section:



P0......................................................................
S1$2,000................................................................
S2(1,000)...............................................................


The group has not made an election under paragraph (c) of this section 
or paragraph (d) of Sec.  1.1502-33. Accordingly, the method of 
allocation provided by paragraph (a)(1) of this section is in effect for 
the group. Assuming that the consolidated taxable income is equal to the 
sum of the members taxable income and losses, or $1,000, the tax 
liability of the group for the year (assuming a 22-percent rate) is 
$220, all of which is allocated to S1. S1 accordingly reduces its 
earnings and profits in the amount of $220, irrespective of who actually 
pays the tax liability. If S1 pays the $220 tax liability there will be 
no further effect upon the income, earnings and profits, or the basis of 
stock of any member. If, however, P pays the $220 tax liability (and 
such payment is not in fact a loan from P to S1), then P shall be 
treated as having made a contribution to the capital of S1 in the amount 
of $220. On the other hand, if S2 pays the $220 tax liability (and such 
payment is not in fact a loan from S2), then S2 shall be treated as 
having made a distribution with respect to its stock to P in the amount 
of $220, and P shall be treated as having made a contribution to the 
capital of S1 in the amount of $220.

[T.D. 6962, 33 FR 9655, July 3, 1968, as amended by T.D. 7825, 42 FR 
64694, Dec. 28, 1977; T.D. 7728, 45 FR 72650, Nov. 3, 1980; T.D. 8560, 
59 FR 41675, Aug. 15, 1994; T.D. 8597, 60 FR 36680, July 18, 1995; T.D. 
8677, 61 FR 33325, June 27, 1996]

                     Certain Controlled Corporations