Eligibility
Stated principal must not exceed $2,000,000 (inflation-adjusted; approximately $5.1M in 2024/2025), the lender must not be an accrual-method taxpayer or dealer, and both parties must make a joint election.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for the Joint Election for Cash Method Reporting?
Stated principal must not exceed $2,000,000 (inflation-adjusted; approximately $5.1M in 2024/2025), the lender must not be an accrual-method taxpayer or dealer, and both parties must make a joint election.
How does the Joint Election for Cash Method Reporting work?
Allows both the borrower and lender to report interest on the cash method rather than the accrual method, deferring tax until interest is actually paid.
What law authorizes the Joint Election for Cash Method Reporting?
The Joint Election for Cash Method Reporting is authorized under IRC §1274A(c) of the Internal Revenue Code (Title 26, United States Code).
Statutory Text — IRC §1274A
Source: Internal Revenue Code, Title 26, United States Code
§ 1274A. Special rules for certain transactions where stated principal amount does not exceed $2,800,000(a) Lower discount rateIn the case of any qualified debt instrument, the discount rate used for purposes of sections 483 and 1274 shall not exceed 9 percent, compounded semiannually.
(b) Qualified debt instrument definedFor purposes of this section, the term “qualified debt instrument” means any debt instrument given in consideration for the sale or exchange of property (other than new section 38 property within the meaning of section 48(b), as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of the Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1990) if the stated principal amount of such instrument does not exceed $2,800,000.
(c) Election to use cash method where stated principal amount does not exceed $2,000,000(1) In generalIn the case of any cash method debt instrument—(A) section 1274 shall not apply, and
(B) interest on such debt instrument shall be taken into account by both the borrower and the lender under the cash receipts and disbursements method of accounting.
(2) Cash method debt instrumentFor purposes of paragraph (1), the term “cash method debt instrument” means any qualified debt instrument if—(A) the stated principal amount does not exceed $2,000,000,
(B) the lender does not use an accrual method of accounting and is not a dealer with respect to the property sold or exchanged,
(C) section 1274 would have applied to such instrument but for an election under this subsection, and
(D) an election under this subsection is jointly made with respect to such debt instrument by the borrower and lender.
(3) Successors bound by election(A) In generalExcept as provided in subparagraph (B), paragraph (1) shall apply to any successor to the borrower or lender with respect to a cash method debt instrument.
(B) Exception where lender transfers debt instrument to accrual method taxpayerIf the lender (or any successor) transfers any cash method debt instrument to a taxpayer who uses an accrual method of accounting, this paragraph shall not apply with respect to such instrument for periods after such transfer.
(4) Fair market value rule in potentially abusive situationsIn the case of any cash method debt instrument, section 483 shall be applied as if it included provisions similar to the provisions of section 1274(b)(3).
(d) Other special rules(1) Aggregation rulesFor purposes of this section—(A) all sales or exchanges which are part of the same transaction (or a series of related transactions) shall be treated as 1 sale or exchange, and
(B) all debt instruments arising from the same transaction (or a series of related transactions) shall be treated as 1 debt instrument.
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