View all text of Part VI [§ 161 - § 199A]
§ 174. Amortization of research and experimental expenditures
(a) In generalIn the case of a taxpayer’s specified research or experimental expenditures for any taxable year—
(1) except as provided in paragraph (2), no deduction shall be allowed for such expenditures, and
(2) the taxpayer shall—
(A) charge such expenditures to capital account, and
(B) be allowed an amortization deduction of such expenditures ratably over the 5-year period (15-year period in the case of any specified research or experimental expenditures which are attributable to foreign research (within the meaning of section 41(d)(4)(F))) beginning with the midpoint of the taxable year in which such expenditures are paid or incurred.
(b) Specified research or experimental expenditures
(c) Special rules
(1) Land and other property
(2) Exploration expenditures
(3) Software development
(d) Treatment upon disposition, retirement, or abandonment
(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 66; Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, §§ 1901(a)(30), 1906(b)(13)(A), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1769, 1834; Pub. L. 97–248, title II, § 201(d)(9)(B) formerly § 201(c)(9)(B), Sept. 3, 1982, 96 Stat. 420, renumbered § 201(d)(9)(B), Pub. L. 97–448, title III, § 306(a)(1)(A)(i), Jan. 12, 1983, 96 Stat. 2400; amended Pub. L. 99–514, title VII, § 701(e)(4)(D), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2343; Pub. L. 100–647, title I, § 1007(g)(5), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3435; Pub. L. 101–239, title VII, § 7110(d), Dec. 19, 1989, 103 Stat. 2325; Pub. L. 113–295, div. A, title II, § 221(a)(31), (32), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 4042; Pub. L. 115–97, title I, § 13206(a), Dec. 22, 2017, 131 Stat. 2111.)