Us Code § 1252 - Gain from disposition of farm land

Full text of Us Code United States Code § 1252 — Gain from disposition of farm land, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.

§ 1252. Gain from disposition of farm land

(a) General rule

(1) Ordinary income

Except as otherwise provided in this section, if farm land which the taxpayer has held for less than 10 years is disposed of, the lower of—

(A) the applicable percentage of the aggregate of the deductions allowed under section 175 (relating to soil and water conservation expenditures) for expenditures made by the taxpayer with respect to the farm land or

(B) the excess of—

(i) the amount realized (in the case of a sale, exchange, or involuntary conversion), or the fair market value of the farm land (in the case of any other disposition), over

(ii) the adjusted basis of such land,


shall be treated as ordinary income. Such gain shall be recognized notwithstanding any other provision of this subtitle.

(2) Farm land

For purposes of this section, the term "farm land" means any land with respect to which deductions have been allowed under section 175 (relating to soil and water conservation expenditures).

(3) Applicable percentage

For purposes of this section—

 
If the farm land is disposed of—The applicable

percentage is—

Within 5 years after the date it was acquired 100 percent.
Within the sixth year after it was acquired 80 percent.
Within the seventh year after it was acquired 60 percent.
Within the eighth year after it was acquired 40 percent.
Within the ninth year after it was acquired 20 percent.
10 years or more years after it was acquired 0 percent.

(b) Special rules

Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, rules similar to the rules of section 1245 shall be applied for purposes of this section.

(Added Pub. L. 91–172, title II, §214(a), Dec. 30, 1969, 83 Stat. 572; amended Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, §§1901(b)(3)(K), 1906(b)(13)(A), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1793, 1834; Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title IV, §492(b)(5), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 854; Pub. L. 99–514, title IV, §402(b)(2), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2221; Pub. L. 113–295, div. A, title II, §221(a)(85), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 4049; Pub. L. 115–141, div. U, title IV, §401(b)(32), Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1204.)


Editorial Notes

Amendments

2018—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 115–141, §401(b)(32)(A), struck out "during a taxable year beginning" after "disposed of" in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (a)(1)(A). Pub. L. 115–141, §401(b)(32)(B), substituted "section" for "sections" and "for expenditures" for "and 182 (as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of the Tax Reform Act of 1986) for expenditures".

Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 115–141, §401(b)(32)(C), substituted "section" for "sections" and struck out "or 182 (relating to expenditures by farmers for clearing land)" before period at end.

2014—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 113–295, §221(a)(85)(A), struck out "after December 31, 1969" after "beginning" in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (a)(1)(A). Pub. L. 113–295, §221(a)(85)(B), struck out "after December 31, 1969," after "taxpayer".

1986—Subsec. (a)(1)(A). Pub. L. 99–514 substituted "(as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of the Tax Reform Act of 1986)" for "(relating to expenditures by farmers for clearing land)".

1984—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 98–369 struck out ", except that this section shall not apply to the extent section 1251 applies to such gain" after "of this subtitle" in last sentence.

1976—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 94–455, §1901(b)(3)(K), substituted "ordinary income" for "gain from the sale or exchange of property which is neither a capital asset nor property described in section 1231".

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 94–455, §1906(b)(13)(A), struck out "or his delegate" after "Secretary".


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 1986 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 99–514 applicable to amounts paid or incurred after Dec. 31, 1985, in taxable years ending after such date, see section 402(c) of Pub. L. 99–514, set out as an Effective Date of Repeal note under former section 182 of this title.

Effective Date of 1984 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 98–369 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1983, see section 492(d) of Pub. L. 98–369, set out as a note under section 170 of this title.

Effective Date of 1976 Amendment

Amendment by section 1901(b)(3)(K) of 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

Pub. L. 91–172, title II, §214(c), Dec. 30, 1969, 83 Stat. 573, provided that: "The amendments made by this section [enacting this section] shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1969."

Savings Provision

For provisions that nothing in amendment by Pub. L. 115–141 be construed to affect treatment of certain transactions occurring, property acquired, or items of income, loss, deduction, or credit taken into account prior to Mar. 23, 2018, for purposes of determining liability for tax for periods ending after Mar. 23, 2018, see section 401(e) of Pub. L. 115–141, set out as a note under section 23 of this title.

About This Section

26 U.S.C. § 1252 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. § 1252. 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.

How to Read This Statute

Statutes are organized by title, chapter, section, and subsection. Pay attention to words like "shall," "may," "and," and "or," because they determine whether a requirement is mandatory or permissive and whether multiple conditions must all be met. Historical notes and amendments often appear at the end of a section.

Using This Page

This page is intended for research and educational use. Lawyers, students, journalists, and compliance professionals can use it as a starting point, but should always verify the current text through an official government source before relying on it for legal advice, filings, or compliance decisions.

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions About Us Code § 1252

What does United States Code § 1252 cover?

Section 1252 ("Gain from disposition of farm land") 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 § 1252?

A common citation format is "United States Code § 1252" (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 § 1252 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.