---
kind: "section"
citation: "26 U.S.C. § 843"
title: "26"
title_heading: "Internal Revenue Code"
number: "843"
heading: "Annual accounting period"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/26/843"
units:
  - "Subtitle A — Income Taxes"
  - "Chapter 1 — Normal Taxes and Surtaxes"
  - "Subchapter L — Insurance Companies"
  - "Part III — Provisions of General Application"
---

# §843. Annual accounting period


For purposes of this subtitle, the annual accounting period for each insurance [company](/usc/26/812.md?p=a) subject to a tax imposed by this subchapter shall be the calendar year. Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, an insurance [company](/usc/26/812.md?p=a) which joins in the filing of a consolidated return (or is required to so file) may adopt the taxable year of the common [parent corporation](/usc/26/424.md?p=e) even though such year is not a calendar year.


## Source credit

(Added Mar. 13, 1956, ch. 83, § 4(a), 70 Stat. 48; amended Pub. L. 94–455, title XV, § 1507(b)(2), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1740.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1976—Pub. L. 94–455 inserted provision permitting an insurance company which joins in the filing of a consolidated return to adopt the taxable year of the common parent corporation even though such year is not a calendar year.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1976 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 94–455 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1980, see section 1507(c)(1) of Pub. L. 94–455, set out as a note under section 1504 of this title.

### Effective Date

Section applicable only to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1954, see Effective Date of 1956 Amendment note set out under section 316 of this title.