Source credit, amendments & notes
(Added Pub. L. 93–406, title II, §2003(a), Sept. 2, 1974, 88 Stat. 971; amended Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, §1906(b)(13)(A), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1834; Pub. L. 95–600, title I, §141(f)(5), (6), Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2795; Pub. L. 96–222, title I, §101(a)(7)(C), (K), (L)(iv)(III), (v)(XI), Apr. 1, 1980, 94 Stat. 198–201; Pub. L. 96–364, title II, §§208(b), 209(b), Sept. 26, 1980, 94 Stat. 1289, 1290; Pub. L. 96–596, §2(a)(1)(K),(L), (2)(I), (3)(F), Dec. 24, 1980, 94 Stat. 3469, 3471; Pub. L. 97–448, title III, §305(d)(5), Jan. 12, 1983, 96 Stat. 2400; Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title IV, §491(d)(45), (46), (e)(7), (8), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 851–853; Pub. L. 99–514, title XI, §1114(b)(15)(A), title XVIII, §§1854(f)(3)(A), 1899A(51), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2452, 2882, 2961; Pub. L. 101–508, title XI, §11701(m), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–513.)
References in Text
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, referred to in subsecs. (c)(2), (d)(12) to (15), (e)(3), (9)(B), (g)(1), and (i) is Pub. L. 93–406, Sept. 2, 1974, 88 Stat. 832, as amended. Part 1 of subtitle E of title IV of such Act is classified generally to part 1 (29 U.S.C. 1381 et seq.) of subtitle E of subchapter III of chapter 18 of Title 29, Labor. Sections 401, 405, 406, 408, 3003, 4044, 4223, and 4231 of such Act are classified to sections 1101, 1105, 1106, 1108, 1203, 1344, 1403, and 1411, respectively, of Title 29. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1001 of Title 29 and Tables.
The date of the enactment of the Subchapter S Revision Act of 1982, referred to in subsec. (d), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 97–354, which was approved Oct. 19, 1982.
The Investment Company Act of 1940, referred to in subsecs. (e)(8) and (g), is title I of act Aug. 22, 1940, ch. 686, 54 Stat. 789, as amended, which is classified generally to subchapter I (§80a–1 et seq.) of chapter 2D of Title 15, Commerce and Trade. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 80a–51 of Title 15 and Tables.
Amendments
1990—Subsec. (d)(13). Pub. L. 101–508 inserted before semicolon at end “or which is exempt from section 406 of such Act by reason of section 408(b) of such Act”.
1986—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 99–514, §1899A(51), inserted a closing parenthesis after “and (12)” in second sentence.
Subsec. (d)(1)(B). Pub. L. 99–514, §1114(b)(15)(A), substituted “highly compensated employees (within the meaning of section 414(q))” for “highly compensated employees, officers, or shareholders”.
Subsec. (e)(7). Pub. L. 99–514, §1854(f)(3)(A), inserted “, section 409(o), and, if applicable, section 409(n)” in last sentence.
1984—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 98–369, §491(d)(45), substituted in provision following par. (15) “or an individual retirement annuity (as defined in section 408)” for “, individual retirement annuity, or an individual retirement bond (as defined in section 408 or 409)”.
Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 98–369, §491(d)(46), struck out “or 405(a)” after “section 403(a)” and “or a retirement bond described in section 409” after “section 408(b)”, and substituted “or annuity” for “annuity, or bond” and “or account” for “account, or bond”.
Subsec. (e)(7). Pub. L. 98–369, §491(e)(7), substituted “section 409(h)” for “section 409A(h)”, “section 409(e)(4)” for “section 409A(e)(4)”, and “section 409(e)” for “section 409A(e)”.
Subsec. (e)(8). Pub. L. 98–369, §491(e)(8), substituted “section 409(l)” for “section 409A(l)”.
1983—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 97–448 inserted “, as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of the Subchapter S Revision Act of 1982” after “section 1379” in last sentence.
1980—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 96–596, §2(a)(1)(K), substituted “taxable period” for “correction period”.
Subsec. (d)(14), (15). Pub. L. 96–364, §208(b), added pars. (14) and (15).
Subsec. (e)(7). Pub. L. 96–222, §101(a)(7)(K), (L)(iv)(III), (v)(XI), substituted references to an employee stock ownership plan, for references to a leveraged employee stock ownership plan wherever appearing therein, and substituted provisions relating to treatment of a plan as an employee stock ownership plan, for provisions relating to treatment of a plan as a leveraged employee stock ownership plan.
Subsec. (e)(8). Pub. L. 96–222, §101(a)(7)(C), substituted provisions defining “qualifying employer security” within the meaning of section 409A(l), for provisions defining such term as stock, or otherwise an equity security, or within the meaning of section 503(e)(1) to (3).
Subsec. (e)(9). Pub. L. 96–364, §209(b), added par. (9).
Subsec. (f)(2)(B), (C). Pub. L. 96–596, §2(a)(2)(I), added subpar. (B) and redesignated former subpar. (B) as (C).
Subsec. (f)(4)(B). Pub. L. 96–596, §2(a)(1)(L), substituted “taxable period” for “correction period”.
Subsec. (f)(6). Pub. L. 96–596, §2(a)(3)(F), struck out par. (6), which defined correction period, with respect to a prohibited transaction, as the period beginning on the date on which the prohibited transaction occurs and ending 90 days after the date of mailing of a notice of deficiency with respect to the tax imposed by subsec. (b) of this section under section 6212 of this title, extended by any period in which a deficiency cannot be assessed under section 6213(a) of this title and any other period which the Secretary determines is reasonable and necessary to bring about the correction of the prohibited transaction.
1978—Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 95–600, §141(f)(6), substituted “leveraged employee” for “employee”.
Subsec. (e)(7). Pub. L. 95–600, §141(f)(5), substituted in heading “Leveraged employee” for “Employee”, and in text, “leveraged employee” for “employee” and inserted provision that a plan not be treated as a leveraged employee stock ownership plan unless it meet the requirements of section 409A(e) and (h).
1976—Subsecs. (c) to (f). Pub. L. 94–455 struck out “or his delegate” after “Secretary” wherever appearing.
Effective Date of 1990 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 101–508 effective, except as otherwise provided, as if included in the provision of the Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1989, Pub. L. 101–239, title VII, to which such amendment relates, see section 11701(n) of Pub. L. 101–508, set out as a note under section 42 of this title.
Effective Date of 1986 Amendment
Amendment by section 1114(b)(15)(A) of Pub. L. 99–514 applicable to years beginning after Dec. 31, 1988, see section 1114(c)(3) of Pub. L. 99–514, set out as a note under section 414 of this title.
Amendment by section 1854(f)(3)(A) of Pub. L. 99–514 effective Oct. 22, 1986, see section 1854(f)(4)(A) of Pub. L. 99–514, set out as a note under section 409 of this title.
Effective Date of 1984 Amendment
Amendment by section 491(d)(45), (46) of Pub. L. 98–369 applicable to obligations issued after Dec. 31, 1983, see section 491(f)(1) of Pub. L. 98–369, set out as a note under section 62 of this title.
Amendment by section 491(e)(7), (8) of Pub. L. 98–369 effective Jan. 1, 1984, see section 491(f)(3) of Pub. L. 98–369, set out as a note under section 401 of this title.
Effective Date of 1983 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 97–448 effective on date of enactment of Subchapter S Revision Act of 1982 [Oct. 19, 1982], see section 311(c)(4) of Pub. L. 97–448, set out as a note under section 1368 of this title.
Effective Date of 1980 Amendments
For effective date of amendment by Pub. L. 96–596 with respect to any first tier tax and to any second tier tax, see section 2(d) of Pub. L. 96–596, set out as an Effective Date note under section 4961 of this title.
Amendment by section 208(b) of Pub. L. 96–364 effective Sept. 26, 1980, see section 210(a) of Pub. L. 96–364, set out as an Effective Date note under section 418 of this title.
Amendment by section 209(b) of Pub. L. 96–364 applicable to taxable years ending after Sept. 26, 1980, see section 210(c) of Pub. L. 96–364, set out as an Effective Date note under section 418 of this title.
Section 101(b)(1)(C) of Pub. L. 96–222 provided that: “The amendment made by subparagraph (C) of subsection (a)(6) [probably should be ‘(a)(7)’, which amended this section] shall apply to stock acquired after December 31, 1979.”
Amendment by section 101(a)(7)(K), (L)(iv)(III), (v)(XI) of Pub. L. 96–222 effective, except as otherwise provided, as if it had been included in the provision of the Revenue Act of 1978, Pub. L. 95–600, to which such amendment relates, see section 201 of Pub. L. 96–222, set out as a note under section 32 of this title.
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Section 141(h) of Pub. L. 95–600, as added by Pub. L. 96–222, title I, §101(a)(7)(B), Apr. 1, 1980, 94 Stat. 197; Pub. L. 99–514, §2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2095, provided that: “Paragraphs (5) and (6) of subsection (f) [section 141(f)(5), (6) of Pub. L. 95–600] shall apply—
“(1) insofar as they make the requirements of subsections (e) and (h)(1)(B) of section 409A [now section 409] of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [formerly I.R.C. 1954] applicable to section 4975 of such Code, to stock acquired after December 31, 1979, and
“(2) insofar as they make paragraphs (1)(A) and (2) of section 409A(h) [now section 409(h)] of such Code applicable to such section 4975, to distributions after December 31, 1978.”
Effective Date; Savings Provision
Section 2003(c) of Pub. L. 93–406, as amended by Pub. L. 99–514, §2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2095, provided that:
“(1)(A) The amendments made by this section [enacting this section and amending section 503 of this title] shall take effect on January 1, 1975.
“(B) If, before the amendments made by this section [enacting this section and amending section 503 of this title] take effect, an organization described in section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [formerly I.R.C. 1954] is denied exemption under section 501(a) of such Code by reason of section 503 of such Code, the denial of such exemption shall not apply if the disqualified person elects (in such manner and at such time as the Secretary or his delegate shall by regulations prescribe) to pay, with respect to the prohibited transaction (within the meaning of section 503(b) or (g)) which resulted in such denial of exemption, a tax in the amount and in the manner provided with respect to the tax imposed under section 4975 of such Code. An election made under this subparagraph, once made, shall be irrevocable. The Secretary of the Treasury or his delegate shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this subparagraph.
“(2) Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to tax on prohibited transactions) shall not apply to—
“(A) a loan of money or other extension of credit between a plan and a disqualified person under a binding contract in effect on July 1, 1974 (or pursuant to renewals of such a contract), until June 30, 1984, if such loan or other extension of credit remains at least as favorable to the plan as an arm's-length transaction with an unrelated party would be, and if the execution of the contract, the making of the loan, or the extension of credit was not, at the time of such execution, making, or extension, a prohibited transaction (within the meaning of section 503(b) of such Code) or the corresponding provisions of prior law);
“(B) a lease of joint use of property involving the plan and a disqualified person pursuant to a binding contract in effect on July 1, 1974 (or pursuant to renewals of such a contract), until June 30, 1984, if such lease or joint use remains at least as favorable to the plan as an arm's-length transaction with an unrelated party would be and if the execution of the contract was not, at the time of such execution, a prohibited transaction (within the meaning of section 503(b) of such Code) or the corresponding provisions of prior law;
“(C) the sale, exchange, or other disposition of property described in subparagraph (B) between a plan and a disqualified person before June 30, 1984, if—
“(i) in the case of a sale, exchange, or other disposition of the property by the plan to the disqualified person, the plan receives an amount which is not less than the fair market value of the property at the time of such disposition; and
“(ii) in the case of the acquisition of the property by the plan, the plan pays an amount which is not in excess of the fair market value of the property at the time of such acquisition:
“(D) Until June 30, 1977, the provision of services to which subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) do not apply between a plan and a disqualified person (i) under a binding contract in effect on July 1, 1974 (or pursuant to renewals of such contract), or (ii) if the disqualified person ordinarily and customarily furnished such services on June 30, 1974, if such provision of services remains at least as favorable to the plan as an arm's-length transaction with an unrelated party would be and if the provision of services was not, at the time of such provision, a prohibited transaction (within the meaning of section 503(b) of such Code) or the corresponding provisions of prior law; or
“(E) the sale, exchange, or other disposition of property which is owned by a plan on June 30, 1974, and all times thereafter, to a disqualified person, if such plan is required to dispose of such property in order to comply with the provisions of section 407(a)(2)(A) (relating to the prohibition against holding excess employer securities and employer real property) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 [29 U.S.C. 1107(a)(2)] and if the plan receives not less than adequate consideration.
For the purposes of this paragraph, the term ‘disqualified person’ has the meaning provided by section 4975(e)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.”
Regulations
Secretary of the Treasury or his delegate to issue before Feb. 1, 1988, final regulations to carry out amendments made by section 1114 of Pub. L. 99–514, see section 1141 of Pub. L. 99–514, set out as a note under section 401 of this title.
Plan Amendments Not Required Until January 1, 1989
For provisions directing that if any amendments made by subtitle A or subtitle C of title XI [§§1101–1147 and 1171–1177] or title XVIII [§§1800–1899A] of Pub. L. 99–514 require an amendment to any plan, such plan amendment shall not be required to be made before the first plan year beginning on or after Jan. 1, 1989, see section 1140 of Pub. L. 99–514, as amended, set out as a note under section 401 of this title.
Intent of Congress Concerning Employee Stock Ownership Plans
Section 803(h) of Pub. L. 94–455 provided that: “The Congress, in a series of laws (the Regional Rail Reorganization Act of 1973, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, the Trade Act of 1974, and the Tax Reduction Act of 1975) and this Act has made clear its interest in encouraging employee stock ownership plans as a bold and innovative method of strengthening the free private enterprise system which will solve the dual problems of securing capital funds for necessary capital growth and of bringing about stock ownership by all corporate employees. The Congress is deeply concerned that the objectives sought by this series of laws will be made unattainable by regulations and rulings which treat employee stock ownership plans as conventional retirement plans, which reduce the freedom of the employee trusts and employers to take the necessary steps to implement the plans, and which otherwise block the establishment and success of these plans. Because of the special purposes for which employee stock ownership plans are established, it is consistent with the intent of Congress to permit these plans (whether structured as pension, stock bonus, or profit-sharing plans) to distribute income on employer securities currently.”
I.R.C. § 4975 — Tax on prohibited transactions · USC 1994 ed., current through 1995-01-04 · https://pensionresource.website/EAMain?content=EAMain.Law&id=irc-4975&asof=1987-06-01 · printed Oct 16, 2026