§ 26. Limitation based on tax liability; definition of tax liability
(a) Limitation based on amount of tax
(1) In general
The aggregate amount of credits allowed by this subpart (other than sections
24,
25A(i),
25B,
25D,
30,
30B, and
30D) for the taxable year shall not exceed the excess (if any) of—
(A)the taxpayer’s regular tax liability for the taxable year, over
(B)the tentative minimum tax for the taxable year (determined without regard to the alternative minimum tax foreign tax credit).
For purposes of subparagraph (B), the taxpayer’s tentative minimum tax for any taxable year beginning during 1999 shall be treated as being zero.
(2) Special rule for taxable years 2000 through 2011
For purposes of any taxable year beginning during 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, or 2011, the aggregate amount of credits allowed by this subpart for the taxable year shall not exceed the sum of—
(A)the taxpayer’s regular tax liability for the taxable year reduced by the foreign tax credit allowable under section
27(a), and
(B)the tax imposed by section
55(a) for the taxable year.
(b) Regular tax liability
For purposes of this part—
(1) In general
The term “regular tax liability” means the tax imposed by this chapter for the taxable year.
(2) Exception for certain taxes
For purposes of paragraph (1), any tax imposed by any of the following provisions shall not be treated as tax imposed by this chapter:
(C)subsection (m)(5)(B), (q), (t), or (v) of section
72 (relating to additional taxes on certain distributions),
(D)section
143(m) (relating to recapture of proration of Federal subsidy from use of mortgage bonds and mortgage credit certificates),
(E)section
530(d)(4) (relating to additional tax on certain distributions from Coverdell education savings accounts),
(F)section
531 (relating to accumulated earnings tax),
(G)section
541 (relating to personal holding company tax),
(H)section
1351(d)(1) (relating to recoveries of foreign expropriation losses),
(I)section
1374 (relating to tax on certain built-in gains of S corporations),
(J)section
1375 (relating to tax imposed when passive investment income of corporation having subchapter C earnings and profits exceeds 25 percent of gross receipts),
(K)subparagraph (A) of section
7518(g)(6) (relating to nonqualified withdrawals from capital construction funds taxed at highest marginal rate),
(L)sections
871(a) and
881 (relating to certain income of nonresident aliens and foreign corporations),
(M)section
860E(e) (relating to taxes with respect to certain residual interests),
(O)sections
453(l)(3) and
453A(c) (relating to interest on certain deferred tax liabilities),
(P)section
860K[1] (relating to treatment of transfers of high-yield interests to disqualified holders),
(Q)section
220(f)(4) (relating to additional tax on Archer MSA distributions not used for qualified medical expenses),
(R)section
138(c)(2) (relating to penalty for distributions from Medicare Advantage MSA not used for qualified medical expenses if minimum balance not maintained),