[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 26, Volume 1]
[Revised as of April 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 26CFR1.216-2]

[Page 353-356]
 
                       TITLE 26--INTERNAL REVENUE
 
    CHAPTER I--INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY 
                               (CONTINUED)
 
PART 1_INCOME TAXES--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 1.216-2  Treatment as property subject to depreciation.

    (a) General rule. For taxable years beginning after December 31, 
1961, stock in a cooperative housing corporation (as defined by section 
216(b) (1) and paragraph (c) of Sec. 1.216-1) owned by a tenant-
stockholder (as defined by section 216(b) (2) and paragraph (d) of Sec. 
1.216-1) who uses the proprietary lease or right of tenancy, which was 
conferred on him solely by reason of his ownership of such stock, in a 
trade or business or for the production of income shall be treated as 
property subject to the allowance for depreciation under section 167(a) 
in the manner and to the extent prescribed in this section.
    (b) Determination of allowance for depreciation--(1) In general. 
Subject to the special rules provided in subparagraphs (2) and (3) of 
this paragraph and the limitation provided in paragraph (c) of this 
section, the allowance for depreciation for the taxable year with 
respect to stock of a tenant-stockholder, subject to the extent provided 
in this section to an allowance for depreciation, shall be determined:
    (i) By computing the amount of depreciation (amortization in the 
case of a leasehold) which would be allowable under one of the methods 
of depreciation prescribed in section 167(b) and the regulations 
thereunder (in paragraph (a) of Sec. 1.162-11 and Sec. 1.167(a)-4 in 
the case of a leasehold) in respect of the depreciable (amortizable) 
real property

[[Page 354]]

owned by the cooperative housing corporation in which such tenant-
stockholder has a proprietary lease or right of tenancy,
    (ii) By reducing the amount of depreciation (amortization) so 
computed in the same ratio as the rentable space in such property which 
is not subject to a proprietary lease or right of tenancy by reason of 
stock ownership but which is held for rental purposes bears to the total 
rentable space in such property, and
    (iii) By computing such tenant-stockholder's proportionate share of 
such annual depreciation (amortization), so reduced.

As used in this section, the terms depreciation and depreciable real 
property include amortization and amortizable leasehold of real 
property. As used in this section, the tenant-stockholder's 
proportionate share is that proportion which stock of the cooperative 
housing corporation owned by the tenant-stockholder is of the total 
outstanding stock of the corporation, including any stock held by the 
corporation. In order to determine whether a tenant-stockholder may use 
one of the methods of depreciation prescribed in section 167(b) (2), 
(3), or (4) for purposes of subdivision (i) of this subparagraph, the 
limitations provided in section 167(c) on the use of such methods of 
depreciation shall be applied with respect to the depreciable real 
property owned by the cooperative housing corporation in which the 
tenant-stockholder has a proprietary lease or right of tenancy, rather 
than with respect to the stock in the cooperative housing corporation 
owned by the tenant-stockholder or with respect to the proprietary lease 
or right of tenancy conferred on the tenant-stockholder by reason of his 
ownership of such stock. The allowance for depreciation determined under 
this subparagraph shall be properly adjusted where only a portion of the 
property occupied under a proprietary lease or right of tenancy is used 
in a trade or business or for the production of income.
    (2) Stock acquired subsequent to first offering. Except as provided 
in subparagraph (3), in the case of a tenant-stockholder who purchases 
stock other than as part of the first offering of stock by the 
corporation, the basis of the depreciable real property for purposes of 
the computation required by subparagraph (1)(i) of this paragraph shall 
be the amount obtained by:
    (i) Multiplying the taxpayer's cost per share by the total number of 
outstanding shares of stock of the corporation, including any shares 
held by the corporation,
    (ii) Adding thereto the mortgage indebtedness to which such 
depreciable real property is subject on the date of purchase of such 
stock, and
    (iii) Subtracting from the sum so obtained the portion thereof not 
properly allocable as of the date such stock was purchased to the 
depreciable real property owned by the cooperative housing corporation 
in which such tenant-stockholder has a proprietary lease or right of 
tenancy.

In order to prevent an overstatement or understatement of the basis of 
the depreciable real property for purposes of the computation required 
by subparagraph (1)(i) of this paragraph, appropriate adjustment for 
purposes of the computations described in subdivisions (i) and (ii) of 
this subparagraph shall be made in respect of prepayments and 
delinquencies on account of the corporation's mortgage indebtedness. 
Thus, for purposes of subdivision (i) of this subparagraph, the 
taxpayer's cost per share shall be reduced by an amount determined by 
dividing the total mortgage indebtedness prepayments in respect of the 
shares purchased by the taxpayer by the number of such shares. For 
purposes of subdivision (ii) of this subparagraph, the mortgage 
indebtedness shall be increased by the sum of all prepayments applied in 
reduction of the mortgage indebtedness and shall be decreased by any 
amount due under the terms of the mortgage and unpaid.
    (3) Conversion subsequent to date of acquisition. In the case of a 
tenant-stockholder whose proprietary lease or right of tenancy is 
converted, in whole or in part, to use in a trade or business or for the 
production of income on a date subsequent to the date on which he 
acquired the stock conferring on him such lease or right of tenancy, the 
basis of the depreciable real property

[[Page 355]]

for purposes of the computation required by subparagraph (1)(i) of this 
paragraph shall be the fair market value of such depreciable real 
property on the date of the conversion if the fair market value is less 
than the adjusted basis of such property in the hands of the cooperative 
housing corporation provided in section 1011 without taking into account 
any adjustment for depreciation required by section 1016(a)(2). Such 
fair market value shall be deemed to be equal to the adjusted basis of 
such property, taking into account adjustments required by section 
1016(a)(2) computed as if the corporation had used the straight line 
method of depreciation, in the absence of evidence establishing that the 
fair market value so attributed to the property is unrealistic. In the 
case of a tenant-stockholder who purchases stock other than as part of 
the first offering of stock of the corporation, and at a later date 
converts his proprietary lease to use for business or production of 
income:
    (i) The adjusted basis of the cooperative housing corporation's 
depreciable real property without taking into account any adjustment for 
depreciation shall be the amount determined in accordance with 
subdivisions (i), (ii), and (iii) of subparagraph (2) of this paragraph, 
and
    (ii) The fair market value shall be deemed to be equal to such 
adjusted basis reduced by the amount of depreciation, computed under the 
straight line method, which would have been allowable in respect of 
depreciable real property having a cost or other basis equal to the 
amount representing such adjusted basis in the absence of evidence 
establishing that the fair market value so attributed to the property is 
unrealistic.
    (c) Limitation. If the allowance for depreciation for the taxable 
year determined in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (b) of 
this section exceeds the adjusted basis (provided in section 1011) of 
the stock described in paragraph (a) of this section allocable to the 
tenant-stockholder's proprietary lease or right of tenancy used in a 
trade or business or for the production of income, such excess is not 
allowable as a deduction. For taxable years beginning after December 31, 
1986, such excess, subject to the provisions of this paragraph (c), is 
allowable as a deduction for depreciation in the succeeding taxable 
year. To determine the portion of the adjusted basis of such stock which 
is allocable to such proprietary lease or right of tenancy, the adjusted 
basis is reduced by taking into account the same factors as are taken 
into account under paragraph (b)(1) of this section in determining the 
allowance for depreciation.
    (d) Examples. The provisions of section 216(c) and this section may 
be illustrated by the following examples:

    Example 1. The Y corporation, a cooperative housing corporation 
within the meaning of section 216, in 1961 purchased a site and 
constructed thereon a building with 10 apartments at a total cost of 
$250,000 ($200,000 being allocable to the building and $50,000 being 
allocable to the land). Such building was completed on January 1, 1962, 
and at that time had an estimated useful life of 50 years, with an 
estimated salvage value of $20,000. Each apartment is of equal value. 
Upon completion of the building, Y corporation mortgaged the land and 
building for $150,000 and sold its total authorized capital stock, 
consisting of 1000 shares of common stock, for $100,000. The stock was 
purchased by 10 individuals each of whom paid $10,000 for 100 shares. 
Each certificate for 100 shares provides that the holder thereof is 
entitled to a proprietary lease of a particular apartment in the 
building. Each lease provides that the lessee shall pay his 
proportionate share of the corporation's expenses including an amount on 
account of the curtailment of Y's mortgage indebtedness. B, a calendar 
year taxpayer, is the original owner of 100 shares of stock in Y 
corporation. On January 1, 1962, B subleases his apartment for a term of 
5 years. B's stock in Y corporation is treated as property subject to 
the allowance for depreciation under section 167(a), and B, who uses the 
straight line method of depreciation for purposes of the computation 
prescribed by paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section, computes the 
allowance for depreciation for the taxable year 1962 with respect to 
such stock as follows:

Y's basis in the building...................................    $200,000
Less: Estimated salvage value...............................     $20,000
                                                             -----------
      Y's basis for depreciation............................    $180,000
                                                             ===========
Annual straight line depreciation on Y's building (1/50 of        $3,600
 $180,000)..................................................
Proportion of outstanding shares of stock of Y corporation          1/10
 (1,000) owned by B (100)...................................
B's proportionate share of annual depreciation (1/10 of             $360
 $3,600)....................................................
Depreciation allowance for 1962 with respect to B's stock           $360
 (if the limitation in paragraph (c) of this section is not
 applicable)................................................



[[Page 356]]

    Example 2. The facts are the same as in Example 1 except that the 
building constructed by Y corporation contained, in addition to the 10 
apartments, space on the ground floor for 2 stores which were rented to 
persons who do not have a proprietary lease of such space by reason of 
stock ownership. Y corporation's building has a total area of 16,000 
square feet, the 10 apartments in such building have an area of 10,000 
square feet, and the 2 stores on the ground floor have an area of 2,000 
square feet. Thus, the total rentable space in Y corporation's building 
is 12,000 square feet. B, who uses the straight line method of 
depreciation for purposes of the computation prescribed by paragraph 
(b)(1)(i) of this section, computes the allowance for depreciation for 
the taxable year 1962 with respect to his stock in Y corporation as 
follows:

Y's basis in the building...................................    $200,000
Less: Estimated salvage value...............................      20,000
                                                             -----------
    Y's basis for depreciation..............................     180,000
                                                             ===========
Annual straight line depreciation on Y's building (1/50 of         3,600
 $180,000)..................................................
Less: Amount representing rentable space not subject to              600
 proprietary lease but held for rental purposes over total
 rentable space 2,000/12,000 (of $3,600)....................
                                                             -----------
    Annual depreciation, as reduced.........................       3,000
                                                             ===========
B's proportionate share of annual depreciation (1/10 of              300
 $3,000)....................................................
Depreciation allowance for 1962 with respect to B's stock            300
 (if the limitation in paragraph (c) of this section is not
 applicable)................................................


    Example 3. The facts are the same as in Example 1 except that B 
occupies his apartment from January 1, 1962, until December 31, 1966, 
and that on January 1, 1967, B sells his stock to C, an individual, for 
$15,000. C thereby obtains a proprietary lease from Y corporation with 
the same rights and obligations as B's lease provided. Y corporation's 
records disclose that its outstanding mortgage indebtedness is $135,000 
on January 1, 1967. C, a physician, uses the entire apartment solely as 
an office. C's stock in Y corporation is treated as property subject to 
the allowance for depreciation under section 167(a), and C, who uses the 
straight line method of depreciation for purposes of the computation 
prescribed by paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section, computes the 
allowance for depreciation for the taxable year 1967 with respect to 
such stock as follows:

Price paid for each share of stock in Y corporation                 $150
 purchased by C on 1-1-67 ($15,000/100).....................
                                                             ===========
Per share price paid by C multiplied by total shares of          150,000
 stock in Y corporation outstanding on 1-1-67 ($150x1,000)..
Y's mortgage indebtedness outstanding on 1-1-67.............     135,000
                                                             -----------
                                                                 285,000
Less: Amount attributable to land (assumed to be 1/5 of           57,000
 $285,000)..................................................
                                                             -----------
                                                                 228,000
Less: Estimated salvage value...............................      20,000
                                                             -----------
Basis of Y's building for purposes of computing C's              208,000
 depreciation...............................................
                                                             ===========
Annual straight line depreciation (1/45 of $208,000)........    4,622.22
C's proportionate share of annual depreciation (1/10 of           462.22
 $4,622.22).................................................
Depreciation allowance for 1967 with respect to C's stock         462.22
 (if the limitation in paragraph (c) of this section is not
 applicable)................................................



[T.D. 6725, 29 FR 5665, Apr. 29, 1964, as amended by T.D. 8316, 55 FR 
42006, Oct. 17, 1990]