46 U.S.C. § 57307: Recognition of gain for tax purposes

The owner of an obsolete vessel does not recognize a gain under the Federal income tax laws when the vessel is transferred to the Secretary of Transportation in exchange for a trade-in allowance under this chapter. The basis of the new vessel acquired with the allowance is the same as the basis of the obsolete vessel—(1) increased by the difference between the cost of the new vessel and the trade-in allowance of the obsolete vessel; and (2) decreased by the amount of loss recognized on the transfer.