[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 26, Volume 2]
[Revised as of April 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 26CFR1.163-4]

[Page 831-832]
 
                       TITLE 26--INTERNAL REVENUE
 
    CHAPTER I--INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY 
                               (CONTINUED)
 
PART 1_INCOME TAXES--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 1.163-4  Deduction for original issue discount on certain obligations 
issued after May 27, 1969.

    (a) In general. (1) If an obligation is issued by a corporation with 
original issue discount, the amount of such discount is deductible as 
interest and shall be prorated or amortized over the life of the 
obligation. For purposes of this section the term ``obligation'' shall 
have the same meaning as in Sec. 1.1232-1 (without regard to whether 
the obligation is a capital asset in the hands of the holder) and the 
term ``original issue discount'' shall have the same meaning as in 
section 1232(b)(1) (without regard to the one-fourth of 1 percent 
limitation in the second sentence thereof). Thus, in general, the amount 
of original issue discount equals the excess of the amount payable at 
maturity over the issue price of the bond (as defined in paragraph 
(b)(2) of Sec. 1.1232-3), regardless of whether that amount is less 
than one-fourth of 1 percent of the redemption price at maturity 
multiplied by the number of complete years to maturity. For the rule as 
to whether there is original issue discount in the case of an obligation 
issued in an exchange for property other than money, and the amount 
thereof, see paragraph (b)(2)(iii) of Sec. 1.1232-3. In any case in 
which original issue discount is carried over from one corporation to 
another corporation under section 381(c)(9) or from an obligation 
exchanged to an obligation received in any exchange under paragraph 
(b)(1)(iv) of Sec. 1.1232-3, such discount shall be carried over for 
purposes of this section. The amount of original issue discount carried 
over in an exchange of obligations under the preceding sentence shall be 
prorated or amortized over the life of the obligation issued in such 
exchange. For computation of issue price and the amount of original 
issue discount in the case of serial obligations, see paragraph 
(b)(2)(iv) of Sec. 1.1232-3.
    (2) In the case of an obligation issued by a corporation as part of 
an investment unit (as defined in paragraph (b)(2)(ii)(a) of Sec. 
1.1232-3) consisting of an obligation and other property, the issue 
price of the obligation is determined by allocating the amount received 
for the investment unit to the individual elements of the unit in the 
manner set forth in paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of Sec. 1.1232-3.
    (3) Recovery or retention of amounts previously deducted. In any 
taxable year in which an amount of original issue

[[Page 832]]

discount which was deducted as interest under this section is retained 
or recovered by the taxpayer, such as, for example, by reason of a fine, 
penalty, forfeiture, or other withdrawal fee, such amount shall be 
includible in the gross income of such taxpayer for such taxable year.
    (b) Examples. The rules in paragraph (a) of this section are 
illustrated by the following examples:

    Example (1). N Corporation, which uses the calendar year as its 
taxable year, on January 1, 1970, issued for $99,000, 9 percent bonds 
maturing 10 years from the date of issue, with a stated redemption price 
at maturity of $100,000. The original issue discount on each bond (as 
determined under section 1232(b)(1) without regard to the one-fourth-of-
1-percent limitation in the second sentence thereof) is $1,000, i.e., 
redemption price, $100,000, minus issue price, $99,000. N shall treat 
$1,000 as the total amount to be amortized over the life of the bonds.
    Example (2). Assume the same facts as example (1), except that the 
bonds are convertible into common stock of N Corporation. Since the 
issue price of the bonds includes any amount attributable to the 
conversion privilege, the result is the same as in example (1).
    Example (3). Assume the same facts as example (1), except that the 
bonds are issued as part of an investment unit consisting of an 
obligation and an option. Assume further that the issue price of the 
bonds as determined under the rules of allocation set forth in paragraph 
(b)(2)(ii) of Sec. 1.1232-3 is $94,000. The original issue discount on 
the bond (as determined under section 1232(b)(1) without regard to the 
one-fourth-of-1-percent limitation in the second sentence thereof) is 
$6,000, i.e., redemption price, $100,000, minus issue price, $94,000. N 
shall treat $6,000 as the total amount to be amortized over the life of 
the bonds.
    Example (4). On January 1, 1971, a commercial bank which uses the 
calendar year as its taxable year, issued a certificate of deposit for 
$10,000. The certificate of deposit is not redeemable until December 31, 
1975, except in an emergency as defined in, and subject to the 
qualifications provided by Regulations Q of the Board of Governors of 
the Federal Reserve. See 12 CFR Sec. 217.4(d). The stated redemption 
price at maturity is $13,382.26. The certificate is an obligation to 
which section 1232(a)(3)(A) applies (see paragraph (d) of Sec. 1.1232-
1), and the original issue discount with respect to the certificate (as 
determined under section 1232(b)(1) without regard to the one-fourth-of-
1-percent limitation in the second sentence thereof) is $3,382.26 (i.e., 
redemption price, $13,382.26, minus issued price, $10,000). Y shall 
treat $3,382.26 as the total amount to be amortized over the life of the 
certificate.

    (c) Deduction upon repurchase. (1) Except as provided in 
subparagraph (2) of this paragraph, if bonds are issued by a corporation 
and are subsequently repurchased by the corporation at a price in excess 
of the issue price plus any amount of original issue discount deducted 
prior to repurchase, or minus any amount of premium returned as income 
prior to repurchase, the excess of the repurchase price over the issue 
price adjusted for amortized premium or deducted discount is deductible 
as interest for the taxable year.
    (2) The provisions of subparagraph (1) of this paragraph shall not 
apply to the extent a deduction is disallowed by section 249 (relating 
to limitation on deduction of bond premium or repurchase of convertible 
obligation) and the regulations thereunder.
    (d) Effective date. The provisions of this section shall apply in 
respect of obligations issued after May 27, 1969, other than--
    (1) Obligations issued pursuant to a written commitment which was 
binding on May 27, 1969, and at all times thereafter, and
    (2) Deposits made before January 1, 1971, in the case of 
certificates of deposit, time deposits, bonus plans, and other deposit 
arrangements with banks, domestic building and loan associations, and 
similar financial institutions.

[36 FR 24996, Dec. 28, 1971, as amended by T.D. 7213, 37 FR 21991, Oct. 
18, 1972; T.D. 7259, 38 FR 4253, Feb. 12, 1973]