Amendments
2017—[Pub. L. 115–97] amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section consisted of subsecs. (a) to (f) relating to treatment of research and experimental expenditures as expenses, amortization of certain research and experimental expenditures, expenditure for the acquisition or improvement of land or property, ore and mineral deposit exploration expenditures, limitation to reasonable research expenditures eligible, and cross references, respectively.
2014—Subsec. (a)(2)(A). [Pub. L. 113–295, § 221(a)(31)], amended subpar. (A) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “A taxpayer may, without the consent of the Secretary, adopt the method provided in this subsection for his first taxable year—
“(i) which begins after December 31, 1953, and ends after August 16, 1954, and
“(ii) for which expenditures described in paragraph (1) are paid or incurred.”
Subsec. (b)(2). [Pub. L. 113–295, § 221(a)(32)], struck out “beginning after December 31, 1953” after “for any taxable year”.
1989—Subsecs. (e), (f). [Pub. L. 101–239] added subsec. (e) and redesignated former subsec. (e) as (f).
1988—Subsec. (e)(2). [Pub. L. 100–647] substituted “section 59(e)” for “section 59(d)”.
1986—Subsec. (e)(2). [Pub. L. 99–514] substituted “section 59(d)” for “section 58(i)”.
1982—Subsec. (e). [Pub. L. 97–248, § 201(d)(9)(B)], substituted “Cross references” for “Cross reference” in heading, designated existing provisions as par. (1), and added par. (2).
1976—Subsec. (a)(2)(A). [Pub. L. 94–455, § 1906(b)(13)(A)], struck out “or his delegate” after “Secretary”.
Subsec. (a)(2)(A)(i). [Pub. L. 94–455, § 1901(a)(30)], substituted “August 16, 1954” for “the date on which this title is enacted” after “ends after”.
Subsecs. (a)(3), (b)(1), (2). [Pub. L. 94–455, § 1906(b)(13)(A)], struck out “or his delegate” after “Secretary”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2017 Amendment; Applicability of Change in Method of Accounting
[Pub. L. 115–97, title I, § 13206(b)], Dec. 22, 2017, [131 Stat. 2112], provided that: “The amendments made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall be treated as a change in method of accounting for purposes of section 481 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and—“(1)
such change shall be treated as initiated by the taxpayer,
“(2)
such change shall be treated as made with the consent of the Secretary, and
“(3)
such change shall be applied only on a cut-off basis for any research or experimental expenditures paid or incurred in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2021, and no adjustments under section 481(a) shall be made.”
Amendment by [Pub. L. 115–97] applicable to amounts paid or incurred in taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 2021, see [section 13206(e) of Pub. L. 115–97], set out as a note under section 41 of this title.
Effective Date of 2014 Amendment
Amendment by [Pub. L. 113–295] effective Dec. 19, 2014, subject to a savings provision, see [section 221(b) of Pub. L. 113–295], set out as a note under section 1 of this title.
Effective Date of 1989 Amendment
Amendment by [Pub. L. 101–239] applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1989, see [section 7110(e) of Pub. L. 101–239], set out as a note under section 41 of this title.
Effective Date of 1988 Amendment
Amendment by [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
Amendment by [Pub. L. 99–514] applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1986, with certain exceptions and qualifications, see [section 701(f) of Pub. L. 99–514], set out as an Effective Date note under section 55 of this title.
Effective Date of 1982 Amendment
Amendment by [Pub. L. 97–248] applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1982, see [section 201(e)(1) of Pub. L. 97–248], set out as a note under section 5 of this title.
Applicability of Certain Amendments by [Pub. L. 99–514] in Relation to Treaty Obligations of United States
For applicability of amendment by [Pub. L. 99–514] notwithstanding any treaty obligation of the United States in effect on Oct. 22, 1986, with provision that for such purposes any amendment by title I of [Pub. L. 100–647] be treated as if it had been included in the provision of [Pub. L. 99–514] to which such amendment relates, see section 1012(aa)(2), (4) of [Pub. L. 100–647], set out as a note under section 861 of this title.
Allocation or Apportionment to Sources Within United States of Research and Experimental Expenditures Paid or Incurred for Research Activities Conducted in United States; 2-Year Program
[Pub. L. 97–34, title II, § 223(a)], Aug. 13, 1981, [95 Stat. 249], as amended by [Pub. L. 99–514, § 2], Oct. 22, 1986, [100 Stat. 2095], provided that: “In the case of the taxpayer’s first 2 taxable years beginning within 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act [Aug. 13, 1981], all research and experimental expenditures (within the meaning of section 174 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [formerly I.R.C. 1954]) which are paid or incurred in such year for research activities conducted in the United States shall be allocated or apportioned to sources within the United States.”