[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 26, Volume 10]
[Revised as of April 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 26CFR1.996-2]

[Page 725-726]
 
                       TITLE 26--INTERNAL REVENUE
 
    CHAPTER I--INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY 
                               (CONTINUED)
 
PART 1_INCOME TAXES--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 1.996-2  Ordering rules for losses.

    (a) In general. Under section 996(b), if for any taxable year a 
DISC, or a former DISC, incurs a deficit in earnings and profits, such 
deficit shall be charged--
    (1) First, to other earnings and profits (as defined in Sec. 1.996-
3(d)) to the extent thereof,
    (2) Second, to accumulated DISC income (as defined in Sec. 1.996-
3(b)) to the extent thereof, subject to the special rule in paragraph 
(b) of this section,
    (3) Third, to previously taxed income (as defined in Sec. 1.996-
3(c)) to the extent thereof, and
    (4) To the extent that the amount of such deficit exceeds the sum of 
the amounts charged in accordance with subparagraphs (1), (2), and (3) 
of this paragraph, to other earnings and profits (as defined in Sec. 
1.996-3(d)).

Thus, the excess deficit charged to other earnings and profits under 
subparagraph (4) of this paragraph will create a deficit therein in the 
amount of such excess. To determine the amount of any division of 
earnings and profits for the purpose of determining under Sec. 1.996-1 
the treatment of any actual and certain deemed distributions, the 
portion of a deficit in earnings and profits chargeable under this 
paragraph to such division prior to such distribution shall be 
determined in a manner consistent with the rules in Sec. 1.316-2(b) for 
determining the amount of earnings and profits available on the date of 
any distribution.
    (b) Deficits subsequent to a disqualification. A deficit in earnings 
and profits of a DISC, or former DISC, shall not be charged to 
accumulated DISC income which has been determined is to be deemed 
distributed to the shareholders pursuant to Sec. 1.995-3 as a result of 
a revocation of election or other disqualification. Thus, in accordance 
with paragraph (a) of this section as modified by this paragraph, a 
deficit incurred by a former DISC following such a revocation or 
disqualification shall be charged first to other earnings and profits 
and then to previously taxed income with any balance being charged to 
other earnings and profits and creating a deficit therein. The preceding 
sentence shall also apply in the case of a deficit incurred by a DISC 
which has no accumulated DISC income accumulated during its current 
taxable year and all immediately preceding consecutive taxable years for 
which it was a DISC. If as a result of the application of this paragraph 
the amount of a deficit in other earnings and profits exceeds the amount 
of a deficit in accumulated earnings and profits, then upon any 
subsequent actual distribution the deficit in other earnings and profits 
shall be reduced by the lower of (1) the amount of such actual 
distribution chargeable to accumulated DISC income or previously taxed 
income or (2) the amount of such excess.
    (c) Examples. The provisions of this section may be illustrated by 
the following examples:

    Example 1. X Corporation, which uses the calendar year as its 
taxable year, becomes a DISC beginning with 1976. In addition to other 
facts assumed in the table below, X incurs a deficit in earnings and 
profits for 1979 of $70. Such deficit is charged to the divisions of X's 
earnings and profits pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section in the 
manner set forth in such table.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Other
                                       Accumulated  Previously  earnings
                                       DISC income     taxed       and
                                                      income     profits
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance January 1, 1976..............  ...........  ..........      $50
Increase for 1976....................        $10          $8    ........
Increase for 1977....................         10           8    ........
Increase for 1978....................         10           8    ........
                                      --------------
  Balance January 1, 1979............         30          24         50
Deficit for 1979 of $70:
  Charge No. 1.......................  ...........  ..........     (50)
  Charge No. 2.......................       (20)    ..........  ........
                                      --------------
    Balance January 1, 1980..........         10    ..........        0
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Example 2. Assume the same facts as in example 1, except that 
effective for taxable years beginning with 1979, X revokes its election 
to be treated as a DISC. Under Sec. 1.995-3, X has $30 of accumulated 
DISC income which is to be deemed distributed $10 per year in 1980, 
1981, and 1982. The deficit in earnings and profits for 1979 is charged 
to the divisions of X's earnings and profits pursuant to

[[Page 726]]

paragraph (b) of this section in the manner set forth in the table 
below:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Other
                                       Accumulated  Previously  earnings
                                       DISC income     taxed       and
                                                      income     profits
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance January 1, 1979..............        $30         $24        $50
Deficit for 1979 of $70:.............
  Charge No. 1.......................  ...........  ..........     (50)
  Charge No. 2.......................  ...........      (20)    ........
                                      --------------
    Balance January 1, 1980..........         30           4          0
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Example 3. Assume the same facts as in example 2, except that the 
deficit in earnings and profits for 1979 is $120. Assume further that 
for 1980, 1981, and 1982, during which years X's shareholders are 
receiving scheduled installments of the deemed distributions of 
accumulated DISC income under Sec. 1.995-3, X, a former DISC, has 
neither earnings and profits nor a deficit in earnings and profits. The 
$120 deficit for 1979 is charged to the divisions of X's earnings and 
profits pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section in the manner set 
forth in the table below:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                             Other
                                                                  Accumulated  Previously  earnings  Accumulated
                                                                  DISC income     taxed       and      earnings
                                                                                 income     profits  and profits
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance January 1, 1979.........................................        $30         $24        $50        $104
Deficit for 1979 of $120........................................  ...........  ..........  ........      (120)
  Charge No. 1..................................................  ...........  ..........     (50)   ...........
  Charge No. 2..................................................  ...........      (24)    ........  ...........
  Charge No. 3..................................................  ...........  ..........     (46)   ...........
                                                                 --------------
    Balance January 1, 1980.....................................         30           0       (46)        (16)
Deemed distributions in 1980 under Sec.  1.995-3...............       (10)          10    ........  ...........
                                                                 --------------
    Balance January 1, 1981.....................................         20          10       (46)        (16)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Example 4. Assume the same facts as in example 3, except that on 
December 31, 1980, X makes an actual distribution of $10 out of 
previously taxed income. On January 1, 1981, X has $20 of accumulated 
DISC income, no previously taxed income, and a deficit of $36 in other 
earnings and profits. The deficit of $16 in accumulated earnings and 
profits remains the same.

[T.D. 7324, 39 FR 35120, Sept. 30, 1974]