The fiscal cliff bill has a surprise few expected. It would renew through the end of 2013 the 100% exclusion from tax gain on qualified small business stock held for at least 5 years (there is a cap on the exclusion, but it is a substantial one).
This tax benefit, which expired at the end of 2011, would be extended for investments made through the end of calendar year 2013. Section 324 of the fiscal cliff bill states as follows:
SEC. 324. EXTENSION OF TEMPORARY EXCLUSION OF 100 PERCENT OF GAIN ON CERTAIN SMALL BUSINESS STOCK.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Paragraph (4) of section 1202(a) is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘January 1, 2012’’ and inserting ‘‘January 1, 2014’’, and
(2) by striking ‘‘AND 2011’’ and inserting ‘‘, 2011, 2012, AND 2013’’ in the heading thereof.
****
Paragraph (4) currently reads as follows:
(4) 100 percent exclusion for stock acquired during certain periods in 2010 and 2011
In the case of qualified small business stock acquired after the date of the enactment of the Creating Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 and before January 1, 2012—
(A) paragraph (1) shall be applied by substituting “100 percent” for “50 percent”,
(B) paragraph (2) shall not apply, and
(C) paragraph (7) of section 57 (a) shall not apply.
****
Therefore, as amended, Paragraph (4) will read as follows:
(4) 100 percent exclusion for stock acquired during certain periods in 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013
In the case of qualified small business stock acquired after the date of the enactment of the Creating Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 and before January 1, 2014—
(A) paragraph (1) shall be applied by substituting “100 percent” for “50 percent”,
(B) paragraph (2) shall not apply, and
(C) paragraph (7) of section 57 (a) shall not apply.
****
There were also technical amendments included. I’ve quoted them below.
(b) TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.—
(1) SPECIAL RULE FOR 2009 AND CERTAIN PERIOD IN 2010.—Paragraph (3) of section 1202(a) is amended by adding at the end the following new flush sentence:
‘‘In the case of any stock which would be described in the preceding sentence (but for this sentence), the acquisition date for purposes of this subsection shall be the first day on which such stock was held by the taxpayer determined after the application of section 1223.’’.
(2) 100 PERCENT EXCLUSION.—Paragraph (4) of section 1202(a) is amended by adding at the end the following new flush sentence:
‘‘In the case of any stock which would be described in the preceding sentence (but for this sentence), the acquisition date for purposes of this subsection shall be the first day on which such stock was held by the taxpayer determined after the application of section 1223.’’.
(c) EFFECTIVE DATES.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply to stock acquired after December 31, 2011.
(2) SUBSECTION (b)(1).—The amendment
made by subsection (b)(1) shall take effect as if included in section 1241(a) of division B of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
(3) SUBSECTION (b)(2).—The amendment made by subsection (b)(2) shall take effect as if included in section 2011(a) of the Creating Small Business Jobs Act of 2010.
