Us Code § 1249 - Gain from certain sales or exchanges of patents, etc., to foreign corporations

Full text of Us Code United States Code § 1249 — Gain from certain sales or exchanges of patents, etc., to foreign corporations, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.

§ 1249. Gain from certain sales or exchanges of patents, etc., to foreign corporations

(a) General rule

Gain from the sale or exchange of a patent, an invention, model, or design (whether or not patented), a copyright, a secret formula or process, or any other similar property right to any foreign corporation by any United States person (as defined in section 7701(a)(30)) which controls such foreign corporation shall, if such gain would (but for the provisions of this subsection) be gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset or of property described in section 1231, be considered as ordinary income.

(b) Control

For purposes of subsection (a), control means, with respect to any foreign corporation, the ownership, directly or indirectly, of stock possessing more than 50 percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock entitled to vote. For purposes of this subsection, the rules for determining ownership of stock prescribed by section 958 shall apply.

(Added Pub. L. 87–834, §16(a), Oct. 16, 1962, 76 Stat. 1045; amended Pub. L. 89–809, title I, §104(m)(3), Nov. 13, 1966, 80 Stat. 1563; Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, §1901(b)(3)(K), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1793; Pub. L. 113–295, div. A, title II, §221(a)(84), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 4049.)


Editorial Notes

Amendments

2014—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 113–295 struck out "after December 31, 1962," before "of a patent".

1976—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 94–455 substituted "ordinary income" for "gain from the sale or exchange of property which is neither a capital asset nor property described in section 1231".

1966—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 89–809 substituted "Gain" for "Except as provided in subsection (c), gain".


Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2014 Amendment

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 1976 Amendment

Amendment by 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.

Effective Date of 1966 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 89–809 applicable with respect to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1966, see section 104(n) of Pub. L. 89–809, set out as a note under section 11 of this title.

Effective Date

Pub. L. 87–834, §16(c), Oct. 16, 1962, 76 Stat. 1045, provided that: "The amendments made by this section [enacting this section] shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1962."

About This Section

26 U.S.C. § 1249 is part of Title 26 of the United States Code. The United States Code is the official codification of federal statutes maintained by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congress amends the Code through new public laws, which are eventually incorporated into the relevant title.

This section may be cited in legal writing as 26 U.S.C. § 1249. For the most current official text, including any recent amendments, use the official source links below. Do not rely on this page as the sole authority for legal citation or litigation.

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Sources

Source: official Us Code text · Last verified 2026-08-27

Frequently Asked Questions About Us Code § 1249

What does United States Code § 1249 cover?

Section 1249 ("Gain from certain sales or exchanges of patents, etc., to foreign corporations") is part of the United States Code, the codified statutory law of Us Code. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.

How do I cite Us Code § 1249?

A common citation format is "United States Code § 1249" (Us Code). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.

Is this the official text of Us Code law?

No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Us Code official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Us Code attorney.

How does Us Code § 1249 apply to my situation?

Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Us Code can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.

Sources & Verification

Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Us Code.