26 U.S.C. § 561 (2024)
This is the official text of 26 U.S.C. § 561 (2024), part of Federal (US Code)’s United States Code — the codified general and permanent federal statutes of the United States, organized into more than 50 numbered titles by subject.
Not legal advice. This page reproduces the official text of a government statute for reference only. Laws change, and how a statute applies depends on your specific facts. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.
Definition of deduction for dividends paid
Official statutory text
(a) General rule
The deduction for dividends paid shall be the sum of—
(1) the dividends paid during the taxable year,
(2) the consent dividends for the taxable year (determined under section 565), and
(3) in the case of a personal holding company, the dividend carryover described in section 564.
(b) Special rules applicable
In determining the deduction for dividends paid, the rules provided in section 562 (relating to rules applicable in determining dividends eligible for dividends paid deduction) and section 563 (relating to dividends paid after the close of the taxable year) shall be applicable.
(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 198; Pub. L. 87–403, §3(f), Feb. 2, 1962, 76 Stat. 8; Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, §1901(b)(32)(H), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1800.)
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1976—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 94–455 redesignated existing provisions of par. (1) as subsec. (b) and struck out par. (2) relating to special adjustment on disposition of antitrust stock as a dividend.
1962—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 87–403 designated existing provisions as par. (1) and added par. (2).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1976 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 94–455 applicable with respect to 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.
Effective Date of 1962 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 87–403 applicable only with respect to distributions made after Feb. 2, 1962, see section 3(g) of Pub. L. 87–403, set out as a note under section 312 of this title.
The deduction for dividends paid shall be the sum of—
(1) the dividends paid during the taxable year,
(2) the consent dividends for the taxable year (determined under section 565), and
(3) in the case of a personal holding company, the dividend carryover described in section 564.
(b) Special rules applicable
In determining the deduction for dividends paid, the rules provided in section 562 (relating to rules applicable in determining dividends eligible for dividends paid deduction) and section 563 (relating to dividends paid after the close of the taxable year) shall be applicable.
(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 198; Pub. L. 87–403, §3(f), Feb. 2, 1962, 76 Stat. 8; Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, §1901(b)(32)(H), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1800.)
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1976—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 94–455 redesignated existing provisions of par. (1) as subsec. (b) and struck out par. (2) relating to special adjustment on disposition of antitrust stock as a dividend.
1962—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 87–403 designated existing provisions as par. (1) and added par. (2).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1976 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 94–455 applicable with respect to 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.
Effective Date of 1962 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 87–403 applicable only with respect to distributions made after Feb. 2, 1962, see section 3(g) of Pub. L. 87–403, set out as a note under section 312 of this title.
Status: in_force · Read it on the official government site
Need a lawyer in Federal (US Code)?
Find a Federal (US Code) lawyer
About this page: Statute text is reproduced from official government publishers via the
Open US Law dataset
(Vaquill AI, snapshot v2026.08, CC BY 4.0). Primary legislative text like this is public domain under the government-edicts doctrine
(Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 2020). We link every section back to its official source so you can verify it independently.