2001 Tax Help Archives  

Instructions for Forms 1120 & 1120-A 2001 Tax Year

U.S. Corporation Income Tax Return U.S. Corporation Short-Form Income Tax Return

Instructions for Forms 1120 & 1120-A, Schedule C, and J

This is archived information that pertains only to the 2001 Tax Year. If you
are looking for information for the current tax year, go to the Tax Prep Help Area.

Schedule C (Form 1120 Only)

Dividends and Special Deductions

For purposes of the 20% ownership test on lines 1 through 7, the percentage of stock owned by the corporation is based on voting power and value of the stock. Preferred stock described in section 1504(a)(4) is not taken into account. Corporations filing a consolidated return should see Regulations sections 1.1502-13, 1.1502-26, and 1.1502-27 before completing Schedule C.

Line 1, Column (a)

Enter dividends (except those received on debt-financed stock acquired after July 18, 1984-see section 246A) that:

  • Are received from less-than-20%-owned domestic corporations subject to income tax and
  • Qualify for the 70% deduction under section 243(a)(1).

Also include on line 1:

  • Taxable distributions from an IC-DISC or former DISC that are designated as eligible for the 70% deduction and certain dividends of Federal Home Loan Banks. See section 246(a)(2).
  • Dividends (except those received on debt-financed stock acquired after July 18, 1984) from a regulated investment company (RIC). The amount of dividends eligible for the dividends-received deduction under section 243 is limited by section 854(b). The corporation should receive a notice from the RIC specifying the amount of dividends that qualify for the deduction.

Report so-called dividends or earnings received from mutual savings banks, etc., as interest. Do not treat them as dividends.

Line 2, Column (a)

Enter on line 2:

  • Dividends (except those received on debt-financed stock acquired after July 18, 1984) that are received from 20%-or-more-owned domestic corporations subject to income tax and that are subject to the 80% deduction under section 243(c) and
  • Taxable distributions from an IC-DISC or former DISC that are considered eligible for the 80% deduction.

Line 3, Column (a)

Enter dividends that are:

  • Received on debt-financed stock acquired after July 18, 1984, from domestic and foreign corporations subject to income tax that would otherwise be subject to the dividends-received deduction under section 243(a)(1), 243(c), or 245(a). Generally, debt-financed stock is stock that the corporation acquired by incurring a debt (e.g., it borrowed money to buy the stock).
  • Received from a RIC on debt-financed stock. The amount of dividends eligible for the dividends-received deduction is limited by section 854(b). The corporation should receive a notice from the RIC specifying the amount of dividends that qualify for the deduction.

Worksheet for Schedule C, line 9

11455T03

Line 3, Columns (b) and (c)

Dividends received on debt-financed stock acquired after July 18, 1984, are not entitled to the full 70% or 80% dividends-received deduction. The 70% or 80% deduction is reduced by a percentage that is related to the amount of debt incurred to acquire the stock. See section 246A. Also, see section 245(a) before making this computation for an additional limitation that applies to dividends received from foreign corporations. Attach a schedule to Form 1120 showing how the amount on line 3, column (c), was figured.

Line 4, Column (a)

Enter dividends received on the preferred stock of a less-than-20%-owned public utility that is subject to income tax and is allowed the deduction provided in section 247 for dividends paid.

Line 5, Column (a)

Enter dividends received on preferred stock of a 20%-or-more-owned public utility that is subject to income tax and is allowed the deduction provided in section 247 for dividends paid.

Line 6, Column (a)

Enter the U.S.-source portion of dividends that:

  • Are received from less-than-20%-owned foreign corporations and
  • Qualify for the 70% deduction under section 245(a). To qualify for the 70% deduction, the corporation must own at least 10% of the stock of the foreign corporation by vote and value.

Also include dividends received from a less-than-20%-owned FSC that:

  • Are attributable to income treated as effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the United States (excluding foreign trade income) and
  • Qualify for the 70% deduction provided in section 245(c)(1)(B).

Line 7, Column (a)

Enter the U.S.-source portion of dividends that are received from 20%-or-more-owned foreign corporations that qualify for the 80% deduction under section 245(a). Also include dividends received from a 20%-or-more-owned FSC that:

  • Are attributable to income treated as effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the United States (excluding foreign trade income) and
  • Qualify for the 80% deduction provided in section 245(c)(1)(B).

Line 8, Column (a)

Enter dividends received from wholly owned foreign subsidiaries that are eligible for the 100% deduction provided in section 245(b).

In general, the deduction under section 245(b) applies to dividends paid out of the earnings and profits of a foreign corporation for a tax year during which:

  • All of its outstanding stock is owned (directly or indirectly) by the domestic corporation receiving the dividends and
  • All of its gross income from all sources is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the United States.

Line 9, Column (c)

Limitation on Dividends-Received Deduction

Generally, line 9, column (c), may not exceed the amount from the worksheet on page 15. However, in a year in which an NOL occurs, this limitation does not apply even if the loss is created by the dividends-received deduction. See sections 172(d) and 246(b).

Line 10, Columns (a) and (c)

Small business investment companies operating under the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 (15 U.S.C. 661 and following) must enter dividends that are received from domestic corporations subject to income tax even though a deduction is allowed for the entire amount of those dividends. To claim the 100% deduction on line 10, column (c), the company must file with its return a statement that it was a Federal licensee under the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 at the time it received the dividends.

Line 11, Column (a)

Enter dividends from FSCs that are attributable to foreign trade income and that are eligible for the 100% deduction provided in section 245(c)(1)(A).

Line 12, Columns (a) and (c)

Enter only those dividends that qualify under section 243(b) for the 100% dividends-received deduction described in section 243(a)(3). Corporations taking this deduction are subject to the provisions of section 1561.

The 100% deduction does not apply to affiliated group members that are joining in the filing of a consolidated return.

Line 13, Column (a)

Enter foreign dividends not reportable on lines 3, 6, 7, 8, or 11 of column (a). Include on line 13 the corporation's share of the ordinary earnings of a qualified electing fund from Form 8621, line 1c. Exclude distributions of amounts constructively taxed in the current year or in prior years under subpart F (sections 951 through 964). Tax Computation Worksheet for Members of a Controlled Group

11455T04

Line 14, Column (a)

Include income constructively received from controlled foreign corporations under subpart F. This amount should equal the total subpart F income reported on Schedule I, Form 5471.

Line 15, Column (a)

Include gross-up for taxes deemed paid under sections 902 and 960.

Line 16, Column (a)

Enter taxable distributions from an IC-DISC or former DISC that are designated as not eligible for a dividends-received deduction.

No deduction is allowed under section 243 for a dividend from an IC-DISC or former DISC (as defined in section 992(a)) to the extent the dividend:

  • Is paid out of the corporation's accumulated IC-DISC income or previously taxed income or
  • Is a deemed distribution under section 995(b)(1).

Line 17, Column (a)

Include the following:

  1. Dividends (other than capital gain distributions reported on Schedule D (Form 1120) and exempt-interest dividends) that are received from RICs and that are not subject to the 70% deduction.
  2. Dividends from tax-exempt organizations.
  3. Dividends (other than capital gain distributions) received from a REIT that, for the tax year of the trust in which the dividends are paid, qualifies under sections 856 through 860.
  4. Dividends not eligible for a dividends-received deduction because of the holding period of the stock or an obligation to make corresponding payments with respect to similar stock.

    Two situations in which the dividends-received deduction will not be allowed on any share of stock are:

    • If the corporation held it less than 46 days during the 90-day period beginning 45 days before the stock became ex-dividend with respect to the dividend (see section 246(c)(1)(A)) or
    • To the extent the corporation is under an obligation to make related payments for substantially similar or related property.
  5. Any other taxable dividend income not properly reported above (including distributions under section 936(h)(4)).

If patronage dividends or per-unit retain allocations are included on line 17, identify the total of these amounts in a schedule attached to Form 1120.

Line 18, Column (c)

Section 247 allows public utilities a deduction of 40% of the smaller of:

  • Dividends paid on their preferred stock during the tax year or
  • Taxable income computed without regard to this deduction.

In a year in which an NOL occurs, compute the deduction without regard to section 247(a)(1)(B). See section 172(d).

Schedule J, Form 1120 (Part I, Form 1120-A)

Tax Computation

Lines 1 and 2, Form 1120

Members of a controlled group (Form 1120 only). A member of a controlled group, as defined in section 1563, must check the box on line 1 and complete lines 2a and 2b of Schedule J, Form 1120.

Line 2a. Members of a controlled group are entitled to one $50,000, one $25,000, and one $9,925,000 taxable income bracket amount (in that order) on line 2a.

When a controlled group adopts or later amends an apportionment plan, each member must attach to its tax return a copy of its consent to this plan. The copy (or an attached statement) must show the part of the amount in each taxable income bracket apportioned to that member. See Regulations section 1.1561-3(b) for other requirements and for the time and manner of making the consent.

Unequal apportionment plan. Members of a controlled group may elect an unequal apportionment plan and divide the taxable income brackets as they want. There is no need for consistency among taxable income brackets. Any member may be entitled to all, some, or none of the taxable income bracket. However, the total amount for all members cannot be more than the total amount in each taxable income bracket.

Equal apportionment plan. If no apportionment plan is adopted, members of a controlled group must divide the amount in each taxable income bracket equally among themselves. For example, Controlled Group AB consists of Corporation A and Corporation B. They do not elect an apportionment plan. Therefore, each corporation is entitled to:

  • $25,000 (one-half of $50,000) on line 2a(1),
  • $12,500 (one-half of $25,000) on line 2a(2), and
  • $4,962,500 (one-half of $9,925,000) on line 2a(3).

Line 2b. Members of a controlled group are treated as one group to figure the applicability of the additional 5% tax and the additional 3% tax. If an additional tax applies, each member will pay that tax based on the part of the amount used in each taxable income bracket to reduce that member's tax. See section 1561(a). If an additional tax applies, attach a schedule showing the taxable income of the entire group and how the corporation figured its share of the additional tax.

Line 2b(1). Enter the corporation's share of the additional 5% tax on line 2b(1).

Line 2b(2). Enter the corporation's share of the additional 3% tax on line 2b(2).

Line 3, Form 1120 (Line 1, Form 1120-A)

Members of a controlled group should use the worksheet above to figure the tax for the group. In addition, members of a controlled group must attach to Form 1120 a statement showing the computation of the tax entered on line 3.

Most corporations not filing a consolidated return figure their tax by using the Tax Rate Schedule below. Qualified personal service corporations should see the instructions below.

Tax Rate Schedule

If taxable income (line 30, Form 1120, or line 26, Form 1120-A) on page 1 is: Tax is: Of the amount over -
Over - But not over -
$0 $50,000 15% $0
50,000 75,000 $ 7,500 + 25% 50,000
75,000 100,000 13,750 + 34% 75,000
100,000 335,000 22,250 + 39% 100,000
335,000 10,000,000 113,900 + 34% 335,000
10,000,000 15,000,000 3,400,000 + 35% 10,000,000
15,000,000 18,333,333 5,150,000 + 38% 15,000,000
18,333,333 - - - - - 35% 0

Qualified personal service corporation. A qualified personal service corporation is taxed at a flat rate of 35% on taxable income. If the corporation is a qualified personal service corporation, check the box on line 3, Schedule J, Form 1120 (or line 1, Part I, Form 1120-A) even if the corporation has no tax liability.

A corporation is a qualified personal service corporation if it meets both of the following tests:

  • Substantially all of the corporation's activities involve the performance of services in the fields of health, law, engineering, architecture, accounting, actuarial science, performing arts, or consulting and
  • At least 95% of the corporation's stock, by value, is owned, directly or indirectly, by (a) employees performing the services, (b) retired employees who had performed the services listed above, (c) any estate of the employee or retiree described above, or (d) any person who acquired the stock of the corporation as a result of the death of an employee or retiree (but only for the 2-year period beginning on the date of the employee or retiree's death). See Temporary Regulations section 1.448-1T(e) for details.

Mutual savings bank conducting life insurance business. The tax under section 594 consists of the sum of (a) a partial tax computed on Form 1120 on the taxable income of the bank determined without regard to income or deductions allocable to the life insurance department and (b) a partial tax on the taxable income computed on Form 1120-L of the life insurance department. Enter the combined tax on line 3 of Schedule J, Form 1120. Attach Form 1120-L as a schedule and identify it as such.

Deferred tax under section 1291. If the corporation was a shareholder in a passive foreign investment company (PFIC) and received an excess distribution or disposed of its investment in the PFIC during the year, it must include the increase in taxes due under section 1291(c)(2) in the total for line 3, Schedule J, Form 1120. On the dotted line next to line 3, write Section 1291 and the amount.

Do not include on line 3 any interest due under section 1291(c)(3). Instead, show the amount of interest owed in the bottom margin of page 1, Form 1120, and write Section 1291 interest. For details, see Form 8621, Return by a Shareholder of a Passive Foreign Investment Company or Qualified Electing Fund.

Additional tax under section 197(f). A corporation that elects to pay tax on the gain from the sale of an intangible under the related person exception to the anti-churning rules should include any additional tax due under section 197(f)(9)(B) in the total for line 3. On the dotted line next to line 3, write Section 197 and the amount. For more information, see Pub. 535, Business Expenses.

Line 4, Form 1120 (Line 2, Form 1120-A)

Alternative Minimum Tax

Unless the corporation is treated as a small corporation exempt from the alternative minimum tax (AMT), it may owe the AMT if it has any of the adjustments and tax preference items listed on Form 4626, Alternative Minimum Tax - Corporations. The corporation must file Form 4626 if its taxable income (loss) combined with these adjustments and tax preference items is more than the smaller of $40,000 or the corporation's allowable exemption amount (from Form 4626).

For this purpose, taxable income does not include the NOL deduction. See Form 4626 for details.

Exemption for small corporations. A corporation is treated as a small corporation exempt from the AMT for its tax year beginning in 2001 if that year is the corporation's first tax year in existence (regardless of its gross receipts) or:

  1. It was treated as a small corporation exempt from the AMT for all prior tax years beginning after 1997 and
  2. Its average annual gross receipts for the 3-tax-year period (or portion thereof during which the corporation was in existence) ending before its tax year beginning in 2001 did not exceed $7.5 million ($5 million if the corporation had only 1 prior tax year).

Line 6a (Form 1120 Only)

Foreign Tax Credit

To find out when a corporation can take the credit for payment of income tax to a foreign country or U.S. possession, see Form 1118, Foreign Tax Credit - Corporations.

Line 6b (Form 1120 Only)

Possessions Tax Credit

The Small Business Job Protection Act of 1996 repealed the possessions credit. However, existing credit claimants may qualify for a credit under the transitional rules. See Form 5735, Possessions Corporation Tax Credit (Under Sections 936 and 30A).

- Continue -

Instructions Index | 2001 Tax Help Archives | Tax Help Archives | Home