U.S. Code > Title 26 Internal Revenue Code > Subtitle A—Income Taxes (§§ 1—1564) > CHAPTER 1—NORMAL TAXES AND SURTAXES (§§ 1—1400U3) > Subchapter G—Corporations Used to Avoid Income Tax on Shareholders (§§ 531—565) > PART I—CORPORATIONS IMPROPERLY ACCUMULATING SURPLUS (§§ 531—537) > § 537. Reasonable needs of the business

§ 537. Reasonable needs of the business

(a) General rule
For purposes of this part, the term “reasonable needs of the business” includes—
(1) the reasonably anticipated needs of the business,
(2) the section 303 redemption needs of the business, and
(3) the excess business holdings redemption needs of the business.
(b) Special rules
For purposes of subsection (a)—
(1) Section 303 redemption needs
The term “section 303 redemption needs” means, with respect to the taxable year of the corporation in which a shareholder of the corporation died or any taxable year thereafter, the amount needed (or reasonably anticipated to be needed) to make a redemption of stock included in the gross estate of the decedent (but not in excess of the maximum amount of stock to which section 303 (a) may apply).
(2) Excess business holdings redemption needs
The term “excess business holdings redemption needs” means the amount needed (or reasonably anticipated to be needed) to redeem from a private foundation stock which—
(A) such foundation held on May 26, 1969 (or which was received by such foundation pursuant to a will or irrevocable trust to which section 4943 (c)(5) applies), and
(B) constituted excess business holdings on May 26, 1969, or would have constituted excess business holdings as of such date if there were taken into account (i) stock received pursuant to a will or trust described in subparagraph (A), and (ii) the reduction in the total outstanding stock of the corporation which would have resulted solely from the redemption of stock held by the private foundation.
(3) Obligations incurred to make redemptions
In applying paragraphs (1) and (2), the discharge of any obligation incurred to make a redemption described in such paragraphs shall be treated as the making of such redemption.
(4) Product liability loss reserves
The accumulation of reasonable amounts for the payment of reasonably anticipated product liability losses (as defined in section 172 (f)), as determined under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, shall be treated as accumulated for the reasonably anticipated needs of the business.
(5) No inference as to prior taxable years
The application of this part to any taxable year before the first taxable year specified in paragraph (1) shall be made without regard to the fact that distributions in redemption coming within the terms of such paragraphs were subsequently made.