SEC. 29. Imposition of Improperly Accumulated Earnings Tax

 CHAPTER IV

TAX ON CORPORATIONS

SEC. 29. Imposition of Improperly Accumulated Earnings Tax. -

(A) In General. - In addition to other taxes imposed by this Title, there is hereby imposed for each taxable year on the improperly accumulated taxable income of each corporation described in Subsection B hereof, an improperly accumulated earnings tax equal to ten percent (10%) of the improperly accumulated taxable income.

(B) Tax on Corporations Subject to Improperly Accumulated Earnings Tax. -

(1) In General. - The improperly accumulated earnings tax imposed in the preceding Section shall apply to every corporation formed or availed for the purpose of avoiding the income tax with respect to its shareholders or the shareholders of any other corporation, by permitting earnings and profits to accumulate instead of being divided or distributed.

(2) Exceptions. - The improperly accumulated earnings tax as provided for under this Section shall not apply to:

(a) Publicly-held corporations; 
(b) Banks and other nonbank financial intermediaries; and 
(c) Insurance companies.

(C) Evidence of Purpose to Avoid Income Tax. -

(1) Prima Facie Evidence. - the fact that any corporation is a mere holding company or investment company shall be prima facie evidence of a purpose to avoid the tax upon its shareholders or members.

(2) Evidence Determinative of Purpose. - The fact that the earnings or profits of a corporation are permitted to accumulate beyond the reasonable needs of the business shall be determinative of the purpose to avoid the tax upon its shareholders or members unless the corporation, by the clear preponderance of evidence, shall prove to the contrary.

(D) Improperly Accumulated Taxable Income. - For purposes of this Section, the term 'improperly accumulated taxable income' means taxable income adjusted by:

(a)  Income exempt from tax; 
(b)  Income excluded from gross income; 
(c)  Income subject to final tax; and 
(d)  The amount of net operating loss carry-over deducted;

And reduced by the sum of:

(a)  Dividends actually or constructively paid; and 
(b)  Income tax paid for the taxable year.

Provided, however, That for corporations using the calendar year basis, the accumulated earnings tax shall not apply on improperly accumulated income as of December 31, 1997. In the case of corporations adopting the fiscal year accounting period, the improperly accumulated income not subject to this tax, shall be reckoned, as of the end of the month comprising the twelve (12)-month period of fiscal year 1997-1998.

(E) Reasonable Needs of the Business. - For purposes of this Section, the term 'reasonable needs of the business' includes the reasonably anticipated needs of the business.