---
kind: "section"
citation: "26 U.S.C. § 1244"
title: "26"
title_heading: "Internal Revenue Code"
number: "1244"
heading: "Losses on small business stock"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/26/1244"
units:
  - "Subtitle A — Income Taxes"
  - "Chapter 1 — Normal Taxes and Surtaxes"
  - "Subchapter P — Capital Gains and Losses"
  - "Part IV — Special Rules for Determining Capital Gains and Losses"
---

# §1244. Losses on small business stock

- (a) **General rule—** In the case of an individual, a loss on section 1244 [stock](/usc/26/1504.md?p=a-4) issued to such individual or to a [partnership](/usc/26/761.md?p=a) which would (but for this section) be treated as a loss from the [sale or exchange](/usc/26/864.md?p=c-8-D) of a [capital asset](/usc/26/1221.md?p=a) shall, to the extent provided in this section, be treated as an ordinary loss.
- (b) **Maximum amount for any taxable year—** For any taxable year the aggregate amount treated by the [taxpayer](/usc/26/1313.md?p=b) by reason of this section as an ordinary loss shall not exceed—
  - (1) $50,000, or
  - (2) $100,000, in the case of a husband and wife filing a [joint return](/usc/26/62.md?p=b-3-D) for such year under section 6013.
- (c) **Section 1244 stock defined—**
  - (1) **In general—** For purposes of this section, the term “section 1244 [stock](/usc/26/1504.md?p=a-4)” means [stock](/usc/26/1504.md?p=a-4) in a domestic corporation if—
    - (A) at the time such [stock](/usc/26/1504.md?p=a-4) is issued, such corporation was a [small business corporation](/usc/26/1361.md?p=b-1),
    - (B) such [stock](/usc/26/1504.md?p=a-4) was issued by such corporation for money or other [property](/usc/26/317.md?p=a) (other than [stock](/usc/26/1504.md?p=a-4) and [securities](/usc/26/368.md?p=a-2-F-vii)), and
    - (C) such corporation, during the period of its 5 most recent taxable years ending before the date the loss on such [stock](/usc/26/1504.md?p=a-4) was sustained, derived more than 50 percent of its aggregate [gross receipts](/usc/26/993.md?p=f) from sources other than royalties, rents, [dividends](/usc/26/316.md?p=a), [interests](/usc/26/856.md?p=f-1), annuities, and sales or exchanges of [stocks](/usc/26/1504.md?p=a-4) or [securities](/usc/26/368.md?p=a-2-F-vii).
  - (2) **Rules for application of paragraph (1)(C)—**
    - (A) **Period taken into account with respect to new corporations—** For purposes of [paragraph (1)(C)](#c-1-C), if the corporation has not been in existence for 5 taxable years ending before the date the loss on the [stock](/usc/26/1504.md?p=a-4) was sustained, there shall be substituted for such 5-year period—
      - (i) the period of the corporation’s taxable years ending before such date, or
      - (ii) if the corporation has not been in existence for 1 taxable year ending before such date, the period such corporation has been in existence before such date.
    - (B) **Gross receipts from sales of securities—** For purposes of [paragraph (1)(C)](#c-1-C), [gross receipts](/usc/26/993.md?p=f) from the sales or exchanges of [stock](/usc/26/1504.md?p=a-4) or [securities](/usc/26/368.md?p=a-2-F-vii) shall be taken into account only to the extent of gains therefrom.
    - (C) **Nonapplication where deductions exceed gross income—** [Paragraph (1)(C)](#c-1-C) shall not apply with respect to any corporation if, for the period taken into account for purposes of [paragraph (1)(C)](#c-1-C), the amount of the deductions allowed by this chapter (other than by sections [172](/usc/26/172.md), [243](/usc/26/243.md), and [245](/usc/26/245.md)) exceeds the amount of gross income.
  - (3) **Small business corporation defined—**
    - (A) **In general—** For purposes of this section, a corporation shall be treated as a [small business corporation](/usc/26/1361.md?p=b-1) if the aggregate amount of money and other [property](/usc/26/317.md?p=a) received by the corporation for [stock](/usc/26/1504.md?p=a-4), as a contribution to capital, and as paid-in surplus, does not exceed $1,000,000. The [determination](/usc/26/1313.md?p=a) under the preceding sentence shall be made as of the time of the issuance of the [stock](/usc/26/1504.md?p=a-4) in question but shall include amounts received for such [stock](/usc/26/1504.md?p=a-4) and for all [stock](/usc/26/1504.md?p=a-4) theretofore issued.
    - (B) **Amount taken into account with respect to property—** For purposes of [subparagraph (A)](#c-3-A), the amount taken into account with respect to any [property](/usc/26/317.md?p=a) other than money shall be the amount equal to the adjusted basis to the corporation of such [property](/usc/26/317.md?p=a) for determining gain, reduced by any liability to which the [property](/usc/26/317.md?p=a) was subject or which was assumed by the corporation. The [determination](/usc/26/1313.md?p=a) under the preceding sentence shall be made as of the time the [property](/usc/26/317.md?p=a) was received by the corporation.
- (d) **Special rules—**
  - (1) **Limitations on amount of ordinary loss—**
    - (A) **Contributions of property having basis in excess of value—** If—
      - (i) section 1244 [stock](/usc/26/1504.md?p=a-4) was issued in exchange for [property](/usc/26/317.md?p=a),
      - (ii) the basis of such [stock](/usc/26/1504.md?p=a-4) in the hands of the [taxpayer](/usc/26/1313.md?p=b) is determined by reference to the basis in his hands of such [property](/usc/26/317.md?p=a), and
      - (iii) the adjusted basis (for determining loss) of such [property](/usc/26/317.md?p=a) immediately before the exchange exceeded its fair market [value](/usc/26/851.md?p=c-4) at such time,

      then in computing the amount of the loss on such [stock](/usc/26/1504.md?p=a-4) for purposes of this section the basis of such [stock](/usc/26/1504.md?p=a-4) shall be reduced by an amount equal to the excess described in [clause (iii)](#d-1-A-iii).

    - (B) **Increases in basis—** In computing the amount of the loss on [stock](/usc/26/1504.md?p=a-4) for purposes of this section, any increase in the basis of such [stock](/usc/26/1504.md?p=a-4) (through contributions to the capital of the corporation, or otherwise) shall be treated as allocable to [stock](/usc/26/1504.md?p=a-4) which is not section 1244 [stock](/usc/26/1504.md?p=a-4).
  - (2) **Recapitalizations, changes in name, etc.** To the extent provided in regulations prescribed by the Secretary, [stock](/usc/26/1504.md?p=a-4) in a corporation, the basis of which (in the hands of a [taxpayer](/usc/26/1313.md?p=b)) is determined in whole or in part by reference to the basis in his hands of [stock](/usc/26/1504.md?p=a-4) in such corporation which meets the requirements of [subsection (c)(1)](#c-1) (other than [subparagraph (C)](#c-1-C) thereof), or which is received in a [reorganization](/usc/26/368.md?p=a-1) described in [section 368(a)(1)(F)](/usc/26/368.md?p=a-1-F) in exchange for [stock](/usc/26/1504.md?p=a-4) which meets such requirements, shall be treated as meeting such requirements. For purposes of paragraphs [(1)(C)](#c-1-C) and [(3)(A)](#c-3-A) of subsection (c), a successor corporation in a [reorganization](/usc/26/368.md?p=a-1) described in [section 368(a)(1)(F)](/usc/26/368.md?p=a-1-F) shall be treated as the same corporation as its predecessor.
  - (3) **Relationship to net operating loss deduction—** For purposes of [section 172](/usc/26/172.md) (relating to the net operating loss deduction), any amount of loss treated by reason of this section as an ordinary loss shall be treated as attributable to a [trade or business](/usc/26/1402.md?p=c) of the [taxpayer](/usc/26/1313.md?p=b).
  - (4) **Individual defined—** For purposes of this section, the term “individual” does not include a trust or [estate](/usc/26/1361.md?p=c-3).
- (e) **Regulations—** The Secretary shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 85–866, title II, § 202(b), Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1676; amended Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, §§ 1901(b)(1)(W), (3)(G), 1906(b)(13)(A), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1792, 1793, 1834; Pub. L. 95–600, title III, § 345(a)–(d), Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2844, 2845; Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title IV, § 481(a), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 847; Pub. L. 113–295, div. A, title II, § 221(a)(41)(H), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 4044.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2014—Subsec. (c)(2)(C). Pub. L. 113–295 struck out “244,” after “243,”.

1984—Subsecs. (c)(1), (d)(2). Pub. L. 98–369 substituted “stock in a” for “common stock in a”.

1978—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 95–600, § 345(b), substituted in par. (1) “$50,000” for “$25,000” and in par. (2) “$100,000” for “$50,000”.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 95–600, § 345(a), (c), among other changes, substituted provisions permitting a corporation to issue common stock under the provisions of this section without a written plan for provisions requiring that a written plan to issue section 1244 stock must be adopted by the issuing corporation and increased the amount of section 1244 stock that a qualified small business corporation may issue from $500,000 to $1,000,000.

Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 95–600, § 345(d), substituted “subparagraph (C)” for “subparagraph (E)” and “paragraphs (1)(C) and (3)(A)” for “paragraphs (1)(E) and (2)(A)”.

1976—Subsecs. (a), (b). Pub. L. 94–455, § 1901(b)(3)(G), substituted “an ordinary loss” for “a loss from the sale or exchange of an asset which is not a capital asset”.

Subsec. (c)(1)(E). Pub. L. 94–455, § 1901(b)(1)(W), struck out reference to section 242 of this title.

Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 94–455, § 1906(b)(13)(A), struck out “or his delegate” after “Secretary”.

Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 94–455, § 1901(b)(3)(G), substituted “an ordinary loss” for “a loss from the sale or exchange of an asset which is not a capital asset”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2014 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 113–295 not applicable to preferred stock issued before Oct. 1, 1942 (determined in the same manner as under section 247 of this title as in effect before its repeal by Pub. L. 113–295), see section 221(a)(41)(K) of Pub. L. 113–295, set out as a note under section 172 of this title.

Except as otherwise provided in section 221(a) of Pub. L. 113–295, 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 1984 Amendment

Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title IV, § 481(b), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 847, provided that: “The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply to stock issued after the date of the enactment of this Act [July 18, 1984] in taxable years ending after such date.”

### Effective Date of 1978 Amendment

Pub. L. 95–600, title III, § 345(e), Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2845, as amended by Pub. L. 96–222, title I, § 103(a)(9), Apr. 1, 1980, 94 Stat. 212, provided that: In general.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), the amendments made by this section [amending this section] shall apply to stock issued after November 6, 1978. Subsection (b).—The amendments made by subsection (b) [amending this section] shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1978. Transitional rule for subsection (b).—In the case of a taxable year which includes November 6, 1978, the amendments made by subsection (b) [amending this section] shall apply with respect to stock issued after such date.”

### Effective Date of 1976 Amendment

Amendment by section 1901(b)(1)(W), (3)(G) 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.