§851. Definition of regulated investment company

(a) General rule

For purposes of this subtitle, the term "regulated investment company" means any domestic corporation-

(1) which, at all times during the taxable year-

(A) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (15 U.S.C. 80a–1 to 80b–2) as a management company or unit investment trust, or

(B) has in effect an election under such Act to be treated as a business development company, or

(2) which is a common trust fund or similar fund excluded by section 3(c)(3) of such Act (15 U.S.C. 80a–3(c)) from the definition of "investment company" and is not included in the definition of "common trust fund" by section 584(a).

(b) Limitations

A corporation shall not be considered a regulated investment company for any taxable year unless-

(1) it files with its return for the taxable year an election to be a regulated investment company or has made such election for a previous taxable year;

(2) at least 90 percent of its gross income is derived from dividends, interest, payments with respect to securities loans (as defined in section 512(a)(5)), and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock or securities (as defined in section 2(a)(36) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended) or foreign currencies, or other income (including but not limited to gains from options, futures, or forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities, or currencies;

(3) less than 30 percent of its gross income is derived from the sale or disposition of any of the following which was held for less than 3 months:

(A) stock or securities (as defined in section 2(a)(36) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended),

(B) options, futures, or forward contracts (other than options, futures, or forward contracts on foreign currencies), or

(C) foreign currencies (or options, futures, or forward contracts on foreign currencies) but only if such currencies (or options, futures, or forward contracts) are not directly related to the company's principal business of investing in stock or securities (or options and futures with respect to stocks or securities), and

(4) at the close of each quarter of the taxable year-

(A) at least 50 percent of the value of its total assets is represented by-

(i) cash and cash items (including receivables), Government securities and securities of other regulated investment companies, and

(ii) other securities for purposes of this calculation limited, except and to the extent provided in subsection (e), in respect of any one issuer to an amount not greater in value than 5 percent of the value of the total assets of the taxpayer and to not more than 10 percent of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and

(B) not more than 25 percent of the value of its total assets is invested in the securities (other than Government securities or the securities of other regulated investment companies) of any one issuer, or of two or more issuers which the taxpayer controls and which are determined, under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, to be engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses or related trades or businesses.

For purposes of paragraph (2), there shall be treated as dividends amounts included in gross income under section 951(a)(1)(A)(i) or 1293(a) for the taxable year to the extent that, under section 959(a)(1) or 1293(c) (as the case may be), there is a distribution out of the earnings and profits of the taxable year which are attributable to the amounts so included. For purposes of paragraph (2), the Secretary may by regulation exclude from qualifying income foreign currency gains which are not directly related to the company's principal business of investing in stock or securities (or options and futures with respect to stock or securities). For purposes of paragraphs (2) and (3), amounts excludable from gross income under section 103(a) shall be treated as included in gross income. Income derived from a partnership or trust shall be treated as described in paragraph (2) only to the extent such income is attributable to items of income of the partnership or trust (as the case may be) which would be described in paragraph (2) if realized by the regulated investment company in the same manner as realized by the partnership or trust. In the case of the taxable year in which a regulated investment company is completely liquidated, there shall not be taken into account under paragraph (3) any gain from the sale, exchange, or distribution of any property after the adoption of the plan of complete liquidation.

(c) Rules applicable to subsection (b)(4)

For purposes of subsection (b)(4) and this subsection-

(1) In ascertaining the value of the taxpayer's investment in the securities of an issuer, for the purposes of subparagraph (B), there shall be included its proper proportion of the investment of any other corporation, a member of a controlled group, in the securities of such issuer, as determined under regulations prescribed by the Secretary.

(2) The term "controls" means the ownership in a corporation of 20 percent or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock entitled to vote.

(3) The term "controlled group" means one or more chains of corporations connected through stock ownership with the taxpayer if-

(A) 20 percent or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock entitled to vote of each of the corporations (except the taxpayer) is owned directly by one or more of the other corporations, and

(B) the taxpayer owns directly 20 percent or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock entitled to vote, of at least one of the other corporations.

(4) The term "value" means, with respect to securities (other than those of majority-owned subsidiaries) for which market quotations are readily available, the market value of such securities; and with respect to other securities and assets, fair value as determined in good faith by the board of directors, except that in the case of securities of majority-owned subsidiaries which are investment companies such fair value shall not exceed market value or asset value, whichever is higher.

(5) All other terms shall have the same meaning as when used in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

(d) Determination of status

A corporation which meets the requirements of subsections (b)(4) and (c) at the close of any quarter shall not lose its status as a regulated investment company because of a discrepancy during a subsequent quarter between the value of its various investments and such requirements unless such discrepancy exists immediately after the acquisition of any security or other property and is wholly or partly the result of such acquisition. A corporation which does not meet such requirements at the close of any quarter by reason of a discrepancy existing immediately after the acquisition of any security or other property which is wholly or partly the result of such acquisition during such quarter shall not lose its status for such quarter as a regulated investment company if such discrepancy is eliminated within 30 days after the close of such quarter and in such cases it shall be considered to have met such requirements at the close of such quarter for purposes of applying the preceding sentence.

(e) Investment companies furnishing capital to development corporations

(1) General rule

If the Securities and Exchange Commission determines, in accordance with regulations issued by it, and certifies to the Secretary not earlier than 60 days prior to the close of the taxable year of a management company or a business development company described in subsection (a)(1), that such investment company is principally engaged in the furnishing of capital to other corporations which are principally engaged in the development or exploitation of inventions, technological improvements, new processes, or products not previously generally available, such investment company may, in the computation of 50 percent of the value of its assets under subparagraph (A) of subsection (b)(4) for any quarter of such taxable year, include the value of any securities of an issuer, whether or not the investment company owns more than 10 percent of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, the basis of which, when added to the basis of the investment company for securities of such issuer previously acquired, did not exceed 5 percent of the value of the total assets of the investment company at the time of the subsequent acquisition of securities. The preceding sentence shall not apply to the securities of an issuer if the investment company has continuously held any security of such issuer (or of any predecessor company of such issuer as determined under regulations prescribed by the Secretary) for 10 or more years preceding such quarter of such taxable year.

(2) Limitation

The provisions of this subsection shall not apply at the close of any quarter of a taxable year to an investment company if at the close of such quarter more than 25 percent of the value of its total assets is represented by securities of issuers with respect to each of which the investment company holds more than 10 percent of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer and in respect of each of which or any predecessor thereof the investment company has continuously held any security for 10 or more years preceding such quarter unless the value of its total assets so represented is reduced to 25 percent or less within 30 days after the close of such quarter.

(3) Determination of status

For purposes of this subsection, unless the Securities and Exchange Commission determines otherwise, a corporation shall be considered to be principally engaged in the development or exploitation of inventions, technological improvements, new processes, or products not previously generally available, for at least 10 years after the date of the first acquisition of any security in such corporation or any predecessor thereof by such investment company if at the date of such acquisition the corporation or its predecessor was principally so engaged, and an investment company shall be considered at any date to be furnishing capital to any company whose securities it holds if within 10 years prior to such date it has acquired any of such securities, or any securities surrendered in exchange therefor, from such other company or predecessor thereof. For purposes of the certification under this subsection, the Securities and Exchange Commission shall have authority to issue such rules, regulations and orders, and to conduct such investigations and hearings, either public or private, as it may deem appropriate.

(4) Definitions

The terms used in this subsection shall have the same meaning as in subsections (b)(4) and (c) of this section.

(f) Certain unit investment trusts

For purposes of this title-

(1) A unit investment trust (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940)-

(A) which is registered under such Act and issues periodic payment plan certificates (as defined in such Act) in one or more series,

(B) substantially all of the assets of which, as to all such series, consist of (i) securities issued by a single management company (as defined in such Act) and securities acquired pursuant to subparagraph (C), or (ii) securities issued by a single other corporation, and

(C) which has no power to invest in any other securities except securities issued by a single other management company, when permitted by such Act or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission,

shall not be treated as a person.

(2) In the case of a unit investment trust described in paragraph (1)-

(A) each holder of an interest in such trust shall, to the extent of such interest, be treated as owning a proportionate share of the assets of such trust;

(B) the basis of the assets of such trust which are treated under subparagraph (A) as being owned by a holder of an interest in such trust shall be the same as the basis of his interest in such trust; and

(C) in determining the period for which the holder of an interest in such trust has held the assets of the trust which are treated under subparagraph (A) as being owned by him, there shall be included the period for which such holder has held his interest in such trust.

This subsection shall not apply in the case of a unit investment trust which is a segregated asset account under the insurance laws or regulations of a State.

(g) Treatment of certain hedging transactions

(1) In general

In the case of any designated hedge, for purposes of subsection (b)(3), increases (and decreases) during the period of the hedge in the value of positions which are part of such hedge shall be netted.

(2) Designated hedge

For purposes of this subsection, there is a designated hedge where-

(A) the taxpayer's risk of loss with respect to any position in property is reduced by reason of-

(i) the taxpayer having an option to sell, being under a contractual obligation to sell, or having made (and not closed) a short sale of substantially identical property,

(ii) the taxpayer being the grantor of an option to buy substantially identical property, or

(iii) under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, the taxpayer holding 1 or more other positions, and

(B) the positions which are part of the hedge are clearly identified by the taxpayer in the manner prescribed by regulations.

(h) Special rule for series funds

(1) In general

In the case of a regulated investment company (within the meaning of subsection (a)) having more than one fund, each fund of such regulated investment company shall be treated as a separate corporation for purposes of this title (except with respect to the definitional requirement of subsection (a)).

(2) Fund defined

For purposes of paragraph (1) the term "fund" means a segregated portfolio of assets, the beneficial interests in which are owned by the holders of a class or series of stock of the regulated investment company that is preferred over all other classes or series in respect of such portfolio of assets.

(3) Special rule for abnormal redemptions

(A) In general

Any fund treated as a separate corporation under paragraph (1) shall not be disqualified under subsection (b)(3) for any taxable year by reason of sales resulting from abnormal redemptions on any day and occurring before the close of the 5th business day after such day if-

(i) the sum of the percentages determined under subparagraph (B) for the abnormal redemptions on such day and for abnormal redemptions on prior days during such taxable year exceeds 30 percent; and

(ii) the regulated investment company of which such fund is a part would meet the requirements of subsection (b)(3) for such taxable year if all the funds which are part of such company were treated as a single company.

(B) Abnormal redemptions

For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term "abnormal redemptions" means redemptions occurring on any day if the net redemptions on such day exceed 1 percent of the fund's net asset value.

(C) Determination of net asset value

For purposes of this paragraph, net asset value for any day shall be determined as of the close of the preceding day.

(D) Limitation

For purposes of subparagraph (A), any sale or other disposition of stock or securities held less than 3 months occurring during any day shall be deemed to result from abnormal redemptions until the cumulative proceeds from such sales or dispositions occurring during such day, plus the cumulative net positive cash flow of the fund for preceding business days (if any) following the day with abnormal redemptions, exceed the amount of net redemptions on the day with abnormal redemptions.

(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 268 ; Sept. 2, 1958, Pub. L. 85–866, title I, §38, 72 Stat. 1638 ; Dec. 30, 1969, Pub. L. 91–172, title IX, §908(a), 83 Stat. 717 ; Mar. 29, 1975, Pub. L. 94–12, title VI, §602(a)(2), 89 Stat. 58 ; Oct. 4, 1976, Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, §§1901(a)(109), 1906(b)(13)(A), 90 Stat. 1783 , 1834; Aug. 15, 1978, Pub. L. 95–345, §2(a)(3), 92 Stat. 481 ; Nov. 6, 1978, Pub. L. 95–600, title VII, §701(s)(1), 92 Stat. 2911 ; Jan. 6, 1983, Pub. L. 97–424, title V, §547(b)(1), 96 Stat. 2199 ; July 18, 1984, Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title X, §1071(a)(1), 98 Stat. 1049 ; Oct. 22, 1986, Pub. L. 99–514, title VI, §§652(a), (b), 653(a)–(c), 654(a), title XII, §1235(f)(3), 100 Stat. 2297 , 2298, 2575; Nov. 10, 1988, Pub. L. 100–647, title I, §1006(m), (n)(1), (2)(A), (B), (4), (5), (o), 102 Stat. 3415 , 3416.)

References in Text

The Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, referred to in subsecs. (a)(1), (b)(2), (3), (c)(5), (f)(1), is title I of act Aug. 22, 1940, ch. 686, 54 Stat. 789 , as amended, which is classified generally to subchapter I (§80a–1 et seq.) of chapter 2D of Title 15, Commerce and Trade. Section 2(a)(36) of the Act is classified to section 80a–2(a)(36) of Title 15. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 80a–51 of Title 15 and Tables.

Amendments

1988-Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 100–647, §1006(m)(1), amended par. (1) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (1) read as follows: "which, at all times during the taxable year, is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (15 U.S.C. 80a–1 to 80b–2), as a management company, business development company, or unit investment trust, or".

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 100–647, §1006(n)(1), (5), inserted at end "Income derived from a partnership or trust shall be treated as described in paragraph (2) only to the extent such income is attributable to items of income of the partnership or trust (as the case may be) which would be described in paragraph (2) if realized by the regulated investment company in the same manner as realized by the partnership or trust. In the case of the taxable year in which a regulated investment company is completely liquidated, there shall not be taken into account under paragraph (3) any gain from the sale, exchange, or distribution of any property after the adoption of the plan of complete liquidation."

Pub. L. 100–647, §1006(n)(2)(B), substituted "which are not directly related" for "which are not ancillary" in last sentence.

Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 100–647, §1006(n)(2)(A), amended par. (3) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (3) read as follows: "less than 30 percent of its gross income is derived from the sale or other disposition of stock or securities held for less than 3 months; and".

Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 100–647, §1006(m)(2), substituted "a management company or a business development company described in subsection (a)(1)" for "a registered management company or registered business development company".

Subsec. (g)(2)(A)(i). Pub. L. 100–647, §1006(n)(4), substituted "contractual obligation" for "contractual option".

Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 100–647, §1006(o)(1), redesignated subsec. (q) as (h).

Subsec. (h)(3). Pub. L. 100–647, §1006(o)(2), added par. (3).

Subsec. (q). Pub. L. 100–647, §1006(o)(1), redesignated subsec. (q) as (h).

1986-Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 99–514, §652(a), substituted "as a management company, business development company, or unit investment trust" for "either as a management company or as a unit investment trust".

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 99–514, §1235(f)(3), inserted "or 1293(a)" and "or 1293(c) (as the case may be)", in concluding provision.

Pub. L. 99–514, §653(c), inserted before last sentence "For purposes of paragraph (2), the Secretary may by regulation exclude from qualifying income foreign currency gains which are not ancillary to the company's principal business of investing in stock or securities (or options and futures with respect to stock or securities)."

Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 99–514, §653(b), inserted "(as defined in section 2(a)(36) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended) or foreign currencies, or other income (including but not limited to gains from options, futures, or forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities, or currencies".

Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 99–514, §652(b), substituted "registered management company or registered business development company" for "registered management company".

Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 99–514, §653(a), added subsec. (g).

Subsec. (q). Pub. L. 99–514, §654(a), added subsec. (q).

1984-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 98–369 struck out "(other than a personal holding company as defined in section 542)" after "any domestic corporation" in introductory provisions.

1983-Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 97–424 substituted "section 103(a)" for "section 103(a)(1)" after "gross income under".

1978-Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 95–600 required that for purposes of pars. (2) and (3), amounts excludable from gross income under section 103(a)(1) shall be treated as included in gross income.

Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 95–345 inserted provision relating to payments with respect to securities loans.

1976-Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 94–455, §1901(a)(109)(A), struck out "54 Stat. 789 ;" before "15 U.S.C. 80a–1 to 80b–2)".

Subsec. (b)(1), (4)(B). Pub. L. 94–455, §1901(a)(109)(B), struck out "which began after December 31, 1941" after "previous taxable year" in par. (1), and "or his delegate" after "Secretary" in par. (4)(B).

Subsecs. (c), (d). Pub. L. 94–455, §1906(b)(13)(A), struck out "or his delegate" after "Secretary" wherever appearing.

1975-Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 94–12 inserted provisions directing that, for purposes of par. (2), there shall be treated as dividends amounts included in gross income under section 951(a)(1)(A)(i) for the taxable year to the extent that, under section 959(a)(1), there is a distribution out of earnings and profits of the taxable year which are attributable to the amounts so included.

1969-Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 91–172 added subsec. (f).

1958-Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 85–866, §38(a), substituted "not earlier than 60 days" for "not less than 60 days" in first sentence.

Subsec. (e)(2). Pub. L. 85–866, §38(b), substituted "issuer" for "issues".

Effective Date of 1988 Amendment

Section 1006(n)(2)(C) of Pub. L. 100–647 provided that: "Subparagraph (C) of section 851(b)(3) of the 1986 Code (as amended by subparagraph (A)), and the amendment made by subparagraph (B) [amending this section], shall apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 10, 1988]."

Amendment by section 1006(m), (n)(1), (2)(A), (4), (5), (o) of Pub. L. 100–647 effective, except as otherwise provided, as if included in the provision of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, Pub. L. 99–514, to which such amendment relates, see section 1019(a) of Pub. L. 100–647, set out as a note under section 1 of this title.

Effective Date of 1986 Amendment

Section 652(c) of Pub. L. 99–514 provided that: "The amendments made by this section [amending this section] shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1986."

Section 653(d) of Pub. L. 99–514 provided that: "The amendments made by this section [amending this section] shall apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 22, 1986]."

Section 654(b) of Pub. L. 99–514 provided that:

"(1) In general.-The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 22, 1986].

"(2) Treatment of certain existing series funds.-In the case of a regulated investment company which has more than one fund on the date of the enactment of this act, and has before such date been treated for Federal income tax purposes as a single corporation-

"(A) the amendment made by subsection (a), and the resulting treatment of each fund as a separate corporation, shall not give rise to the realization or recognition of income or loss by such regulated investment company, its funds, or its shareholders, and

"(B) the tax attributes of such regulated investment company shall be appropriately allocated among its funds."

Amendment by section 1235(f)(3) of Pub. L. 99–514 applicable to taxable years of foreign corporations beginning after Dec. 31, 1986, see section 1235(h) of Pub. L. 99–514, set out as an Effective Date note under section 1291 of this title.

Effective Date of 1984 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 98–369 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1982, with certain exceptions, see section 1071(a)(5) of Pub. L. 98–369, set out as a note under section 852 of this title.

Effective Date of 1978 Amendments

Section 701(s)(3) of Pub. L. 95–600 provided that: "The amendments made by this section [amending this section and section 852 of this title] shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1975."

Amendment by Pub. L. 95–345 applicable with respect to amounts received after Dec. 31, 1976, as payments with respect to securities loans (as defined in section 512(a)(5) of this title), and transfers of securities, under agreements described in section 1058 of this title, occurring after such date, see section 2(e) of Pub. L. 95–345, set out as a note under section 509 of this title.

Effective Date of 1976 Amendment

Amendment by section 1901(a)(109) of Pub. L. 94–455 effective for taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1976, see section 1901(d) of Pub. L. 94–455, set out as a note under section 2 of this title.

Effective Date of 1975 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 94–12 applicable to taxable years of foreign corporations beginning after Dec. 31, 1975, and to taxable years of United States shareholders (within the meaning of section 951(b) of this title) within which or with which such taxable years of such foreign corporations end, see section 602(f) of Pub. L. 94–12, set out as an Effective Date note under section 955 of this title.

Effective Date of 1969 Amendment

Section 908(b) of Pub. L. 91–172 provided that: "The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply to taxable years of unit investment trusts ending after December 31, 1968, and to taxable years of holders of interests in such trusts ending with or within such taxable years of such trusts. The enactment of this section shall not be construed to result in the realization of gain or loss by any unit investment trust or by any holder of an interest in a unit investment trust."

Effective Date of 1958 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 85–866 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1953, and ending after Aug. 16, 1954, see section 1(c)(1) of Pub. L. 85–866, set out as a note under section 165 of this title.

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in sections 11, 50B, 133, 403, 817, 852, 853, 992, 1092, 1212, 1247, 7609, 7704 of this title; title 42 section 1395nn.