2.308 Expensing Research and Development Expenditures in One Year

Taxpayers may elect to treat research or experimental expenditures incurred in connection with a trade or business as immediately deductible expenses. Under generally accepted accounting principles, at least some of these costs would otherwise be treated as capital expenditures and depreciated or amortized over a period of years. Their immediate deduction constitutes a tax expenditure, resulting in a deferral of tax or an interest-free loan.

Origin: IRC, § 174