Immediate Expensing of Circulation Expenditures

§ 173. Circulation expenditures(a) General ruleNotwithstanding section 263, all expenditures (other than expenditures for the purchase of land or depreciable property or for the acquisition of circulation through the purchase of any part of the business of another publisher of a newspaper, magazine, or other periodical) to establish, maintain, or increase the circulation of a newspaper, magazine, or other periodical shall be allowed as a deduction; except that the deduction shall not be allowed with respect to the portion of such expenditures as, under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, is chargeable to capital account if the taxpayer elects, in accordance with such regulations, to treat such portion as so chargeable. Such election, if made, must be for the total amount of such portion of the expenditures which is so chargeable to capital account, and shall be binding for all subsequent taxable years unless, upon application by the taxpayer, the Secretary permits a revocation of such election subject to such conditions as he deems necessary. (b) Cross referenceFor election of 3-year amortization of expenditures allowable as a deduction under subsection (a), see section 59(e). (Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 65; Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, § 1906(b)(13)(A), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1834; Pub. L. 97–248, title II, § 201(d)(9)(A), formerly § 201(c)(9)(A), Sept. 3, 1982, 96 Stat. 420, renumbered § 201(d)(9)(A), Pub. L. 97–448, title III, § 306(a)(1)(A)(i), Jan. 12, 1983, 96 Stat. 2400; Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title VII, § 711(a)(3)(C), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 942; Pub. L. 99–514, title VII, § 701(e)(4)(D), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2343; Pub. L. 100–647, title I, § 1007(g)(5), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3435.) Editorial Notes Amendments1988—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 100–647 substituted “section 59(e)” for “section 59(d)”. 1986—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 99–514 substituted “section 59(d)” for “section 58(i)”. 1984—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 98–369 substituted “3-year” for “10-year”. 1982—Pub. L. 97–248, § 201(d)(9)(A), designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), added subsec. (a) heading, and added subsec. (b). 1976—Pub. L. 94–455 struck out “or his delegate” after “Secretary” in two places. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries Effective Date of 1988 AmendmentAmendment 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 AmendmentAmendment 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.