24354.1
. (a) Except as provided in subdivisions (b) and (c) of this
section, in the case of property of the type defined in Section 1250
(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, subdivision (b) of Section 24349
shall not apply and the term "reasonable allowance" as used in
subdivision (a) of Section 24349 shall include an allowance computed
in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Franchise Tax Board,
under any of the following methods:
(1) The straight line method,
(2) The declining balance method, using a rate not exceeding 150
percent of the rate which would have been used had the annual
allowance been computed under the method described in paragraph (1),
or
(3) Any other consistent method productive of an annual allowance
which, when added to all allowances for the period commencing with
the taxpayer's use of the property and including the taxable year,
does not, during the first two-thirds of the useful life of the
property, exceed the total of such allowances which would have been
used had such allowances been computed under the method described in
paragraph (2).
Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to limit or reduce
an allowance otherwise allowable under subdivision (a) of Section
24349 except where allowable solely by reason of paragraph (2), (3),
or (4) of subdivision (b) of Section 24349.
(b) (1) Subdivision (a) of this section shall not apply, and
subdivision (b) of Section 24349 shall apply in any taxable year, to
a building or structure--
(A) Which is residential rental property located within the United
States or any of its possessions, or located within a foreign
country if a method of depreciation for such property comparable to
the method provided in paragraph (2) or (3) of subdivision (b) of
Section 24349 is provided by the laws of such country and
(B) The original use of which commences with the taxpayer. In the
case of residential rental property located within a foreign country,
the original use of which commences with the taxpayer, if the
allowance for depreciation provided under the laws of such country
for such property is greater than that provided under subdivision (a)
of this section, but less than that provided under subdivision (b)
of Section 24349, the allowance for depreciation under subdivision
(b) of Section 24349 shall be limited to the amount provided under
the laws of such country.
(2) For purposes of paragraph (1), a building or structure shall
be considered to be residential rental property for any taxable year
only if 80 percent or more of the gross rental income from such
building or structure for such year is rental income from dwelling
units (within the meaning of paragraph (3) of subdivision (c) of
Section 24354.2. For purposes of the preceding sentence, if any
portion of such building or structure is occupied by the taxpayer,
the gross rental income from such building or structure shall include
the rental value of the portion so occupied.
(3) Any change in the computation of the allowance for
depreciation for any taxable year, permitted or required by reason of
the application of paragraph (1), shall not be considered a change
in a method of accounting.
(c) Subdivision (a) of this section shall not apply, and
subdivision (b) of Section 24349 shall apply, in the case of
property--
(1) The construction, reconstruction, or erection of which was
begun before January 1, 1971, or
(2) For which a written contract entered into before January 1,
1971, with respect to any part of the construction, reconstruction,
or erection or for the permanent financing thereof, was on January 1,
1971, and at all times thereafter, binding on the taxpayer.
(d) Except as provided in subdivision (e), in the case of property
of the type defined in Section 1250(c) of the Internal Revenue Code
acquired after December 31, 1970, the original use of which does not
commence with the taxpayer, the allowance for depreciation under
Sections 24349 to 24354.2, inclusive, shall be limited to an amount
computed under--
(1) The straight line method, or
(2) Any other method determined by the Franchise Tax Board to
result in a reasonable allowance under subdivision (a) of Section
24349, not including--
(A) Any declining balance method,
(B) The sum of the years-digits method, or
(C) Any other method allowable solely by reason of the application
of paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) of Section 24349 or paragraph
(3) of subdivision (a) of this section.
(e) In the case of property of the type defined in Section 1250(c)
of the Internal Revenue Code which is residential rental property
(as defined in paragraph (2) of subdivision (b)) acquired after
December 31, 1970, having a useful life of 20 years or more, the
original use of which does not commence with the taxpayer, the
allowance for depreciation under Sections 24349 to 24354.2,
inclusive, shall be limited to an amount computed under--
(1) The straight line method,
(2) The declining balance method, using a rate not exceeding 125
percent of the rate which would have been used had the annual
allowance been computed under the method described in paragraph (1),
or
(3) Any other method determined by the Franchise Tax Board to
result in a reasonable allowance under subdivision (a) of Section
24349, not including--
(A) The sum of the years-digits method,
(B) Any declining balance method using a rate in excess of the
rate permitted under paragraph (2), or
(C) Any other method allowable solely by reason of the application
of paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) of Section 24349 or paragraph
(3) of subdivision (a) of this section.
(f) (1) For purposes of subdivisions (b), (d), and (e), if
property of the type defined in Section 1250(c) of the Internal
Revenue Code which is not property described in subdivision (a) of
Section 24349 when its original use commences, becomes property
described in subdivision (a) of Section 24349 after December 31,
1970, such property shall not be treated as property the original use
of which commences with the taxpayer.
(2) Subdivisions (d) and (e) shall not apply in the case of
property of the type defined in Section 1250(c) of the Internal
Revenue Code, acquired after December 31, 1970, pursuant to a written
contract for the acquisition of such property or for the permanent
financing thereof, which was, on December 31, 1970, and at all times
thereafter, binding on the taxpayer.
(g) This section shall not apply to public utility property which
means property used predominantly in the trade or business of the
furnishing or sale of--
(1) Electrical energy, water, or sewage disposal services,
(2) Gas or steam through a local distribution system,
(3) Telephone services, or other communication services if
furnished or sold by the Communications Satellite Corporation for
purposes authorized by the Communications Satellite Act of 1962 (47
U.S.C. 701), or
(4) Transportation of gas or steam by pipeline,
if the rates for such furnishing or sale, as the case may be,
have been established or approved by a state or political subdivision
thereof, by any agency or instrumentality of the United States, or
by a public service or public utility commission or other similar
body of any state or political subdivision thereof.