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HR 4015 97th Congress House Commerce Business and commerce Capital gains tax Corporate finance Corporations and Stocks Income tax Small business Taxation

A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 to provide long-term capital gain treatment for distribution of earnings with respect to certain small business participating debentures.

Introduced: June 25, 1981 See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 97th Congress ended
It never became law before the 97th Congress (1981–1982) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jun 25, 1981
Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means.
Jun 25, 1981
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to treat as long-term capital gain amounts actually paid to a taxpayer with respect to a small business participating debenture (SBPD) which constitute the distribution of a share of the earnings of the issuer.

Defines "small business participating debenture" (SBPD) as a written debt instrument issued by a qualified small business which: (1) is a general obligation of such business; (2) bears interest at not less than specified by the Secretary of the Treasury; (3) has a fixed maturity; (4) grants no voting or conversion rights in the business to the purchaser; and (5) provides for the payment of a share of the issuer's total earnings. Defines "qualified small business" as one: (1) whose equity capital does not exceed $10,000,000; (2) the face value of all of whose outstanding SBPD's does not exceed $1,000,000; and (3) which has no outstanding securities subject to regulation by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Treats members of a controlled group of corporations as a single taxpayer. Denies capital gains treatment where the taxpayer is a "related party" to the SBPD issuer.

Treats losses on small business participating debentures as ordinary losses. Allows an interest expense deduction for interest and share-of-earnings payments made on such debentures.

What's happening now June 25, 1981

Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4015: A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 to provide long-term capital gain treatment for distribution of earnings with respect to certain small business participating debentures.. 97th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/97-HR-4015/
MLA
"H.R. 4015: A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 to provide long-term capital gain treatment for distribution of earnings with respect to certain small business participating debentures.." 97th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/97-HR-4015/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4015, 97th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/97-HR-4015/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4015: A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 to provide long-term capital gain treatment for distribution of earnings with respect to certain small business participating debentures.](https://openamerica.io/bill/97-HR-4015/)
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