[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 26, Volume 6]
[Revised as of April 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 26CFR1.453-9]

[Page 126-129]
 
                       TITLE 26--INTERNAL REVENUE
 
    CHAPTER I--INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY 
                               (CONTINUED)
 
PART 1_INCOME TAXES--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 1.453-9  Gain or loss on disposition of installment obligations.

    (a) In general. Subject to the exceptions contained in section 
453(d)(4) and paragraph (c) of this section, the entire amount of gain 
or loss resulting from any disposition or satisfaction of installment 
obligations, computed in accordance with section 453(d), is recognized 
in the taxable year of such disposition or satisfaction and shall be 
considered as resulting from the sale or exchange of the property in 
respect of which the installment obligation was received by the 
taxpayer.
    (b) Computation of gain or loss. (1) The amount of gain or loss 
resulting under paragraph (a) of this section is the difference between 
the basis of the obligation and (i) the amount realized, in the case of 
satisfaction at other than face value or in the case of a sale or 
exchange, or (ii) the fair market value of the obligation at the time of 
disposition, if such disposition is other than by sale or exchange.
    (2) The basis of an installment obligation shall be the excess of 
the face value of the obligation over an amount equal to the income 
which would be returnable were the obligation satisfied in full.
    (3) The application of subparagraphs (1) and (2) of this paragraph 
may be illustrated by the following examples:

    Example (1). In 1960 the M Corporation sold a piece of unimproved 
real estate to B for $20,000. The company acquired the property in 1948 
at a cost of $10,000. During 1960 the company received $5,000 cash and 
vendee's notes for the remainder of the selling price, or $15,000, 
payable in subsequent years. In 1962, before the vendee made any further 
payments, the company sold the notes for

[[Page 127]]

$13,000 in cash. The corporation makes its returns on the calendar year 
basis. The income to be reported for 1962 is $5,500, computed as 
follows:

Proceeds of sale of notes...........................  ........   $13,000
Selling price of property...........................   $20,000
Cost of property....................................    10,000
                                                     ----------
  Total profit......................................    10,000
  Total contract price..............................    20,000
                                                     ==========
Percent of profit, or proportion of each payment
 returnable as income, $10,000 divided by $20,000,
 50 percent.
Face value of notes.................................    15,000
Amount of income returnable were the notes satisfied     7,500
 in full, 50 percent of $15,000.....................
                                                     ----------
Basis of obligation--excess of face value of notes       7,500
 over amount of income returnable were the notes
 satisfied in full..................................
                                                     ----------
   Taxable income to be reported for 1962.....................     5,500


    Example (2). Suppose in example (1) the M Corporation, instead of 
selling the notes, distributed them in 1962 to its shareholders as a 
dividend, and at the time of such distribution, the fair market value of 
the notes was $14,000. The income to be reported for 1962 is $6,500, 
computed as follows:

Fair market value of notes....................................   $14,000
Basis of obligation--excess of face value of notes over amount     7,500
 of income returnable were the notes satisfied in full
 (computed as in example (1)).................................
                                                               =========
  Taxable income to be reported for 1962......................     6,500


    (c) Disposition from which no gain or loss is recognized. (1)(i) 
Under section 453(d)(4)(A), no gain or loss shall be recognized to a 
distributing corporation with respect to the distribution made after 
November 13, 1966, of installment obligations if (a) the distribution is 
made pursuant to a plan for the complete liquidation of a subsidiary 
under section 332, and (b) the basis of the such obligations in the 
hands of the distributee is determined under section 334(b)(1).
    (ii) Under section 453(d)(4)(B), no gain or loss shall be recognized 
to a distributing corporation with respect to the distribution of 
installment obligations if the distribution is made, pursuant to a plan 
for the complete liquidation of a corporation which meets the 
requirements of section 337, under conditions whereby no gain or loss 
would have been recognized to the corporation had such installment 
obligations been sold or exchanged on the day of the distribution. The 
preceding sentence shall not apply to the extent that under section 
453(d)(1) gain to the distributing corporation would be considered as 
gain to which section 341(f)(2), 617(d)(1), 1245(a)(1), 1250(a)(1), 
1251(c)(1), 1252(a)(1), or 1254(a)(1) applies, computed under the 
principles of the regulations under such provisions. See paragraph (d) 
of Sec. 1.1245-6, paragraph (c)(6) of Sec. 1.1250-1, paragraph (e)(6) 
of Sec. 1.1251-1, paragraph (d)(3) of Sec. 1.1252-1, and paragraph (d) 
of Sec. 1.1254-1.
    (2) Where the Code provides for exceptions to the recognition of 
gain or loss in the case of certain dispositions, no gain or loss shall 
result under section 453(d) in the case of a disposition of an 
installment obligation. Such exceptions include: Certain transfers to 
corporations under sections 351 and 361; contributions of property to a 
partnership by a partner under section 721; and distributions by a 
partnership to a partner under section 731 (except as provided by 
section 736 and section 751).
    (3) Any amount received by a person in payment or settlement of an 
installment obligation acquired in a transaction described in 
subparagraphs (1) or (2) of this paragraph (other than an amount 
received by a stockholder with respect to an installment obligation 
distributed to him pursuant to section 337) shall be considered to have 
the character it would have had in the hands of the person from whom 
such installment obligation was acquired.
    (d) Carryover of installment method. For the treatment of income 
derived from installment obligations received in transactions to which 
section 381 (a) is applicable, see section 381(c)(8) and the regulations 
thereunder.
    (e) Installment obligations transmitted at death. Where installment 
obligations are transmitted at death, see section 691(a)(4) and the 
regulations thereunder for the treatment of amounts considered income in 
respect of a decedent.
    (f) Losses. See subchapter P (section 1201 and following), chapter 1 
of the Code, as to the limitation on capital losses sustained by 
corporations and the limitation as to both capital gains and capital 
losses of individuals.
    (g) Disposition of installment obligations to life insurance 
companies. (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of section

[[Page 128]]

453(d)(4) and paragraph (c) of this section or any provision of subtitle 
A relating to the nonrecognition of gain, the entire amount of any gain 
realized on the disposition of an installment obligation by any person, 
other than a life insurance company (as defined in section 801(a) and 
paragraph (b) of Sec. 1.801-3), to a life insurance company or to a 
partnership of which a life insurance company is a partner shall be 
recognized and treated in accordance with section 453(d)(1) and 
paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section. If a corporation which is a life 
insurance company for the taxable year was a corporation which was not a 
life insurance company for the preceding taxable year, such corporation 
shall be treated, for purposes of section 453(d)(1) and this paragraph, 
as having transferred to a life insurance company, on the last day of 
the preceding taxable year, all installment obligations which it held on 
such last day. The gain, if any, realized by reason of the installment 
obligations being so transferred shall be recognized and treated in 
accordance with section 453(d)(1) and paragraphs (a) and (b) of this 
section. Similarly, a partnership of which a life insurance company 
becomes a partner shall be treated, for purposes of section 453(d)(1) 
and this paragraph, as having transferred to a life insurance company, 
on the last day of the preceding taxable year of such partnership, all 
installment obligations which it holds at the time such life insurance 
company becomes a partner. The gain, if any, realized by reason of the 
installment obligations being so transferred shall be recognized and 
treated in accordance with section 453(d)(1) and paragraphs (a) and (b) 
of this section.
    (2) The provisions of section 453(d)(5) and subparagraph (1) of this 
paragraph shall not apply to losses sustained in connection with the 
disposition of installment obligations to a life insurance company.
    (3) For the effective date of the provisions of section 453(d)(5) 
and this paragraph, see paragraph (f) of Sec. 1.453-10.
    (4) Application of the provisions of this paragraph may be 
illustrated by the following examples:

    Example (1). A, an individual, in a transaction to which section 351 
applies, transfers in 1961 certain assets, including installment 
obligations, to a new corporation, X, which qualifies as a life 
insurance company (as defined in section 801(a)) for the year 1961. A 
makes his return on the calendar year basis. Section 453(d)(5) provides 
that the nonrecognition provisions of section 351 will not apply to the 
installment obligations transferred by A to X Corporation. Therefore, 
the entire amount of any gain realized by A on the transfer of the 
installment obligations shall be recognized in 1961, with the amount of 
any such gain computed in accordance with the provisions of section 
453(d)(1) and paragraph (b) of this section.
    Example (2). The M Corporation did not qualify as a life insurance 
company (as defined in section 801(a)) for the taxable year 1958. On 
December 31, 1958, it held $60,000 of installment obligations. The M 
Corporation qualified as a life insurance company for the taxable year 
1959. Accordingly, the M Corporation is treated as having transferred to 
a life insurance company, on December 31, 1958, the $60,000 of 
installment obligations it held on such date. The gain, if any, realized 
by M by reason of such installment obligations being so transferred 
shall be recognized in the taxable year 1958, with the amount of any 
such gain computed in accordance with the provisions of section 
453(d)(1) and paragraph (b) of this section.
    Example (3). During its taxable year 1958, none of the partners of 
the N partnership qualified as a life insurance company (as defined in 
section 801(a)). The N partnership held $30,000 of installment 
obligations on December 31, 1958. On July 30, 1959, the O Corporation, a 
life insurance company (as defined in section 801(a)), became a partner 
in the partnership. The N partnership held $50,000 of installment 
obligations on July 30, 1959. Pursuant to section 453(d)(5), the N 
partnership is treated as having transferred to a life insurance 
company, on December 31, 1958, the $50,000 of installment obligations it 
held on July 30, 1959. The gain, if any, realized by the N partnership 
by reason of such installment obligations being so transferred shall be 
recognized in the taxable year 1958, with the amount of any such gain 
computed in accordance with the provisions of section 453(d)(1) and 
paragraph (b) of this section.
    Example (4). In 1960, the P Corporation, in a reorganization 
qualifying under section 368(a), transferred certain assets (including 
installment obligations) to the R Corporation, a life insurance company 
as defined in section 801(a). P realized a loss upon the transfer of the 
installment obligations, which was not recognized under section 361. 
Pursuant to subparagraph (2) of paragraph (c) of this section, no loss 
with respect to the

[[Page 129]]

transfer of these obligations will be recognized to P under section 
453(d)(1).

[T.D. 6500, 25 FR 11718, Nov. 26, 1960, as amended by T.D. 6590, 27 FR 
1319, Feb. 13, 1962; T.D. 7084, 36 FR 267, Jan. 8, 1971; T.D. 7418, 41 
FR 18812, May 7, 1976; T.D. 8586, 60 FR 2500, Jan. 10, 1995]