IRC § 41(c) – Base amount
CONTENTS:
(1) In general
(2) Minimum base amount
(3) Fixed-base percentage
(4) Election of alternative incremental credit
(5) Election of alternative simplified credit
(6) Consistent treatment of expenses required
(7) Gross receipts
(1) In general. The term “base amount” means the product of—
(A) the fixed-base percentage, and
(B) the average annual gross receipts of the taxpayer for the 4 taxable years preceding the taxable year for which the credit is being determined (hereinafter in this subsection referred to as the “credit year”).
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(2) Minimum base amount. In no event shall the base amount be less than 50 percent of the qualified research expenses for the credit year.
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(3) Fixed-base percentage
(A) In general. Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, the fixed-base percentage is the percentage which the aggregate qualified research expenses of the taxpayer for taxable years beginning after December 31, 1983, and before January 1, 1989, is of the aggregate gross receipts of the taxpayer for such taxable years.
(B) Start-up companies
(i) Taxpayers to which subparagraph applies The fixed-base percentage shall be determined under this subparagraph if—
(I) the first taxable year in which a taxpayer had both gross receipts and qualified research expenses begins after December 31, 1983, or
(II) there are fewer than 3 taxable years beginning after December 31, 1983, and before January 1, 1989, in which the taxpayer had both gross receipts and qualified research expenses.
(ii) Fixed-base percentage In a case to which this subparagraph applies, the fixed-base percentage is—
(I) 3 percent for each of the taxpayer’s 1st 5 taxable years beginning after December 31, 1993, for which the taxpayer has qualified research expenses,
(II) in the case of the taxpayer’s 6th such taxable year, 1/6 of the percentage which the aggregate qualified research expenses of the taxpayer for the 4th and 5th such taxable years is of the aggregate gross receipts of the taxpayer for such years,
(III) in the case of the taxpayer’s 7th such taxable year, 1/3 of the percentage which the aggregate qualified research expenses of the taxpayer for the 5th and 6th such taxable years is of the aggregate gross receipts of the taxpayer for such years,
(IV) in the case of the taxpayer’s 8th such taxable year, 1/2 of the percentage which the aggregate qualified research expenses of the taxpayer for the 5th, 6th, and 7th such taxable years is of the aggregate gross receipts of the taxpayer for such years,
(V) in the case of the taxpayer’s 9th such taxable year, 2/3 of the percentage which the aggregate qualified research expenses of the taxpayer for the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th such taxable years is of the aggregate gross receipts of the taxpayer for such years,
(VI) in the case of the taxpayer’s 10th such taxable year, 5/6 of the percentage which the aggregate qualified research expenses of the taxpayer for the 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th such taxable years is of the aggregate gross receipts of the taxpayer for such years, and
(VII) for taxable years thereafter, the percentage which the aggregate qualified research expenses for any 5 taxable years selected by the taxpayer from among the 5th through the 10th such taxable years is of the aggregate gross receipts of the taxpayer for such selected years.
(iii) Treatment of de minimis amounts of gross receipts and qualified research expenses The Secretary may prescribe regulations providing that de minimis amounts of gross receipts and qualified research expenses shall be disregarded under clauses (i) and (ii).
(C) Maximum fixed-base percentage. In no event shall the fixed-base percentage exceed 16 percent.
(D) Rounding. The percentages determined under subparagraphs (A) and (B)(ii) shall be rounded to the nearest 1/100th of 1 percent.
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(4) Election of alternative incremental credit
(A) In general. At the election of the taxpayer, the credit determined under subsection (a)(1) shall be equal to the sum of—
(i) 3 percent of so much of the qualified research expenses for the taxable year as exceeds 1 percent of the average described in subsection (c)(1)(B) but does not exceed 1.5 percent of such average,
(ii) 4 percent of so much of such expenses as exceeds 1.5 percent of such average but does not exceed 2 percent of such average, and
(iii) 5 percent of so much of such expenses as exceeds 2 percent of such average.
(B) Election. An election under this paragraph shall apply to the taxable year for which made and all succeeding taxable years unless revoked with the consent of the Secretary.
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(5) Election of alternative simplified credit
(A) In general. At the election of the taxpayer, the credit determined under subsection (a)(1) shall be equal to 14 percent (12 percent in the case of taxable years ending before January 1, 2009) of so much of the qualified research expenses for the taxable year as exceeds 50 percent of the average qualified research expenses for the 3 taxable years preceding the taxable year for which the credit is being determined.
(B) Special rule in case of no qualified research expenses in any of 3 preceding taxable years
(i) Taxpayers to which subparagraph applies The credit under this paragraph shall be determined under this subparagraph if the taxpayer has no qualified research expenses in any one of the 3 taxable years preceding the taxable year for which the credit is being determined.
(ii) Credit rate The credit determined under this subparagraph shall be equal to 6 percent of the qualified research expenses for the taxable year.
(C) Election. An election under this paragraph shall apply to the taxable year for which made and all succeeding taxable years unless revoked with the consent of the Secretary. An election under this paragraph may not be made for any taxable year to which an election under paragraph (4) applies.
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(6) Consistent treatment of expenses required
(A) In general. Notwithstanding whether the period for filing a claim for credit or refund has expired for any taxable year taken into account in determining the fixed-base percentage, the qualified research expenses taken into account in computing such percentage shall be determined on a basis consistent with the determination of qualified research expenses for the credit year.
(B) Prevention of distortions. The Secretary may prescribe regulations to prevent distortions in calculating a taxpayer’s qualified research expenses or gross receipts caused by a change in accounting methods used by such taxpayer between the current year and a year taken into account in computing such taxpayer’s fixed-base percentage.
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(7) Gross receipts. For purposes of this subsection, gross receipts for any taxable year shall be reduced by returns and allowances made during the taxable year. In the case of a foreign corporation, there shall be taken into account only gross receipts which are effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any possession of the United States.
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