ARTICLE 2. Methods of Accounting [24651. - 24654.]

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC 2.

in effect

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 24651. Section 24651.

(a) Income shall be computed under the method of accounting on the basis of which the taxpayer regularly computes its income in keeping its books. (b) If no method of accounting has been regularly used by the taxpayer, or if the method used does not clearly reflect income, the computation of income shall be made under such method as, in the opinion of the Franchise Tax Board, does clearly reflect income. (c) Subject to subdivisions (a) and (b) and Section 24654, a taxpayer may compute income under any of the following methods of accounting— (1) The cash receipts and disbursements method; (2) An accrual method; (3) Any other method permitted by this part; or (4) Any combination of the foregoing methods permitted under regulations prescribed by the Franchise Tax Board. (d) A taxpayer engaged in more than one trade or business may in computing income, use a different method of accounting for each trade or business. (e) Except as otherwise expressly provided in this part, a taxpayer who changes the method of accounting on the basis of which it regularly computes its income in keeping its books shall, before computing its income under the new method, secure the consent of the Franchise Tax Board. (f) If the taxpayer does not file with the Franchise Tax Board a request to change the method of accounting, the absence of the consent of the Franchise Tax Board to a change in the method of accounting shall not be taken into account for either of the following: (1) To prevent the imposition of any penalty, or the addition of any amount to tax, under this part. (2) To diminish the amount of that penalty or addition to tax.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 24652. Section 24652.

(a) Section 447 of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to method of accounting for corporations engaged in farming, shall apply, except as otherwise provided. (b) (1) For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2019, the amendments made by Section 13102(a) of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (Public Law 115-97) to Section 447 of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to method of accounting for corporations engaged in farming, shall apply, except as otherwise provided. (2) (A) Any change in method of accounting made pursuant to this subdivision shall be treated for purposes of applying Section 24721, as initiated by the taxpayer and made with the consent of the Franchise Tax Board. (B) Section 13102(e)(1) of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (Public Law 115-97) does not apply to this subdivision. (C) Notwithstanding subparagraph (B), a taxpayer may elect to apply the provisions of this subdivision to taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2018, and before January 1, 2019.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 24652.5. Section 24652.5.

(a) (1) Section 447(i)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to reduction in account if farming business contracts, shall not apply. (2) Section 447(i)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to income inclusions, shall not apply. (3) (A) No suspense account may be established under Section 447(i) of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to suspense account for family corporations, by any corporation required by Section 447 of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to method of accounting for corporations engaged in farming, to change its method of accounting for any income year ending after June 8, 1997. (B) (i) Each suspense account under Section 447(i) of the Internal Revenue Code shall be reduced (but not below zero) for each income year beginning after June 8, 1997, by an amount equal to the lesser of: (I) The applicable portion of the account. (II) Fifty percent of the net income of the corporation for the income year, or, if the corporation has no net income for that year, the amount of any net operating loss (as defined in Section 172 of the Internal Revenue Code and as modified for purposes of this part) for that income year. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the amount of net income and net operating loss shall be determined without regard to this paragraph. (ii) The amount of the applicable portion for any income year shall be reduced (but not below zero) by the amount of any reduction required for the income year under any other provision of Section 447(i) of the Internal Revenue Code. (iii) Any reduction in a suspense account under this paragraph shall be included in gross income for the income year of the reduction. (C) For purposes of subparagraph (B), the term “applicable portion” means, for any income year, the amount which would ratably reduce the amount in the account (after taking into account prior reductions) to zero over the period consisting of that income year and the remaining income years in those first 20 income years. (D) Any amount in the account as of the close of that 20th year referred to in subparagraph (C) shall be treated as the applicable portion for each succeeding year thereafter to the extent not reduced under this paragraph for any prior income year after the 20th year. (b) This section shall apply to income years ending on or after December 31, 1997. (c) This section shall not apply to income years beginning on or after January 1, 1998.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 24652.6. Section 24652.6.

(a) For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2019, amendments made by Section 13102(e)(2) of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (Public Law 115-97), relating to preservation of suspense account rules with respect to any existing suspense accounts, shall apply to any suspense account existing as of the effective date of the act adding this subdivision that was not otherwise precluded by Section 24652.5. (b) (1) Any change in method of accounting made pursuant to this section shall be treated for purposes of applying Section 24721, as initiated by the taxpayer and made with the consent of the Franchise Tax Board. (2) Section 13102(e)(1) of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (Public Law 115-97) does not apply to this section. (3) Notwithstanding paragraph (2), a taxpayer may elect to apply the provisions of this section to suspense accounts established before the effective date of the act adding this section.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 24654. Section 24654.

(a) Section 448 of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to limitation on use of cash method of accounting, shall apply, except as otherwise provided. (b) For purposes of applying Section 448 of the Internal Revenue Code, Sections 801(d)(2), 801(d)(3), and 801(d)(5) of the Tax Reform Act of 1986 (Public Law 99-514), as modified by Section 1008(a) of Public Law 100-647, shall apply to each taxable year beginning on or after January 1, 1987. (c) (1) For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2019, the amendments made by Section 13102(a) of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (Public Law 115-97) to Section 448 of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to limitation on use of cash method of accounting, shall apply, except as otherwise provided. (2) (A) Any change in method of accounting made pursuant to this subdivision shall be treated for purposes of applying Section 24721, as initiated by the taxpayer and made with the consent of the Franchise Tax Board. (B) Section 13102(e)(1) of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (Public Law 115-97) does not apply to this subdivision. (C) Notwithstanding subparagraph (B), a taxpayer may elect to apply the provisions of this subdivision to taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2018, and before January 1, 2019.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026