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Fiscal-Year C Corporations: Timing a Tax Credit Purchase

· By the Veritas Tax Credits editorial team (how we write and check) · Educational only, not tax advice

Published October 28, 2026. Most year-end content assumes a calendar-year buyer. If your corporation has a fiscal year, the calendar shifts.

Estimated tax

For a fiscal-year corporation, installments are due on the 15th day of the 4th, 6th, 9th and 12th months of the taxable year (§6655(c)). For a year starting July 1, 2026, that is October 15, 2026, December 15, 2026, March 15, 2027 and June 15, 2027.

Which tax year gets the credit

The buyer takes a credit into account in its first taxable year ending with or after the seller's credit year (§6418(d)). If the seller is a calendar-year taxpayer and its credit year is 2026, a buyer with a June 30, 2027 year-end uses it in the year ending June 30, 2027, its first year ending after December 31, 2026. A buyer with a September 30, 2026 year-end would use it in the year ending September 30, 2027, not 2026.

Seller credit yearBuyer year-endBuyer takes credit in the year ending
Calendar 2026December 31December 31, 2026
Calendar 2026June 30June 30, 2027
Calendar 2026September 30September 30, 2027

Payment and filing windows

The same payment window applies: cash is paid by the earlier of the seller's or buyer's return filing (Treas. Reg. §1.6418-1(f)). A fiscal-year buyer's return is due on the 15th day of the fourth month after year-end, so filing dates differ from the seller's.

Practical steps

  1. Map the seller's credit year to your own taxable year using §6418(d).
  2. Rebuild the §38(c) forecast for that year.
  3. List the remaining installments in that year.
  4. Confirm the seller's filing date.

See the estimated tax guide and year-end planning.

Educational information only, not tax, legal or investment advice, and no outcome is promised. Figures were checked against the cited sources on October 28, 2026; confirm with your CPA before acting.

Frequently asked questions

When are fiscal-year corporate estimated taxes due?

On the 15th day of the 4th, 6th, 9th and 12th months of the taxable year (§6655(c)).

Which year does a fiscal-year buyer use the credit in?

The first taxable year ending with or after the seller's credit year (§6418(d)).

Does the December 15 date matter to a fiscal-year corporation?

Only if December 15 is the 15th day of the 4th, 6th, 9th or 12th month of your taxable year, as with a year beginning July 1.

Where do I report a purchased credit?

On Form 3800 with the Transfer Election Statement attached to the return for the year the credit is taken into account.

Sources
  1. 26 U.S.C. §6655, Failure by corporation to pay estimated income tax (Cornell LII)
  2. 26 U.S.C. §6418, Transfer of certain credits (Cornell LII)
  3. 26 CFR §1.6418-1, Definitions (paid in cash)
  4. IRS: Instructions for Form 3800, General Business Credit

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