---
title: Export Tax Incentives for Your Business
description: If you’re the owner of a profitable operating business selling into foreign countries, and most of your production costs are in the U.S., you may have an opportunity to gain considerable tax savings.
---

[Family of Services](http://machenmcchesney.com/about-us/family-of-companies/)  |  [CPA & Business Advisory](http://machenmcchesney.com)  |  [Payroll, HR & Benefits](http://focuspaysolutions.com/)  |  [Wealth Management](http://machenmcchesney.com/services/financial-planning-and-wealth-mangement-services/)

Auburn-Opelika (334) 887-7022 | Montgomery (334) 244-8900

[![mm-cobrand-fd-blues](https://info.machen.cpa/hs-fs/hubfs/mm-cobrand-fd-blues.png?width=279&height=100&name=mm-cobrand-fd-blues.png)](http://machenmcchesney.com)

Search this site on Google

Search Google

Search this site on Google

Search Google

- [Client Portal](https://machenmcchesney.sharefile.com/Authentication/Login)

- [1040 Electronic Organizer](https://www.my1040data.com/account/login/HT7902990)

- [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/675439?trk=tyah&trkInfo=idx%3A1-1-1%2CtarId%3A1424436970395%2Ctas%3Amachen+mcchesney)
- [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/machenmcchesney)
- [Google](https://plus.google.com/101356546927388458481)
- [Twitter](https://twitter.com/machenmcchesney)

- About Us 
    - [Welcome](http://machenmcchesney.com/about-us/welcome/)
    - [Affiliations and Associations](http://machenmcchesney.com/about-us/affiliations-and-associations/)
    - [Community Events](http://machenmcchesney.com/about-us/community-events/)
    - [Family of Companies](http://machenmcchesney.com/about-us/family-of-companies/)
    - [History](http://machenmcchesney.com/about-us/firm-profile-history/)
    - [Mission and Values](http://machenmcchesney.com/about-us/mission-and-values/)
    - [Team Directory](http://machenmcchesney.com/about-us/team-directory/)
- Services 
    - [Accounting & Outsourcing](http://machenmcchesney.com/services/accounting-outsourcing/)
    - [Audit and Assurance Services](http://machenmcchesney.com/services/audit-assurance/)
    - [Business Advisory Services](http://machenmcchesney.com/services/business-advisory/)
    - [Business Valuation Services](http://machenmcchesney.com/services/business-valuation-services/)
    - [Family Office Services](http://machenmcchesney.com/services/family-care/)
    - [Financial Planning & Wealth Mangement Services](http://machenmcchesney.com/services/financial-planning-and-wealth-mangement-services/)
    - [Individual Services](http://machenmcchesney.com/services/individuals/)
    - [Taxation](http://machenmcchesney.com/services/taxation/)
- Who We Serve 
    - [Construction & Real Estate](http://machenmcchesney.com/industries/construction-real-estate/)
    - [Credit Unions](http://machenmcchesney.com/industries/credit-unions/)
    - [Government & Not-For-Profits](http://machenmcchesney.com/industries/governmental-not-for-profit/)
    - [Healthcare & Professional Services](http://machenmcchesney.com/industries/healthcare-and-professional-services/)
    - [Hospitality, Restaurant & Retail](http://machenmcchesney.com/industries/hospitality-restaurant-retail/)
    - [Manufacturing, Distribution & Automotive](http://machenmcchesney.com/industries/manufacturing-distribution-automotive/)
- [Success Stories](http://machenmcchesney.com/success-stories)
- Resources 
    - [Blog](https://info.machenmcchesney.com/blog)
    - [E-Newsletter Archive](http://machenmcchesney.com/resources/e-newsletter-archive/)
    - [Financial Calculators](http://machenmcchesney.com/resources/financial-calculators/)
    - [Financial Terms Glossary](http://machenmcchesney.com/resources/financial-terms-glossary/)
    - [Helpful Articles](http://machenmcchesney.com/resources/newsletter/)
    - [Tax Calendar](http://machenmcchesney.com/resources/tax-calendar/)
    - [Tax Links](http://machenmcchesney.com/resources/tax-links/)
    - [Track Your Refund](http://machenmcchesney.com/resources/track-your-refund/)
    - [Sign Up for Our E-Newsletter](http://machenmcchesney.com/resources/e-newsletter/)
    - [Subscribe to Our Blog](http://machenmcchesney.com/resources/subscribe-to-the-machen-mcchesney-blog/)
- News & Events 
    - [Press Releases](http://machenmcchesney.com/news-events/press-releases/)
    - [Upcoming Events](http://machenmcchesney.com/news-events/upcoming-events/)
- Careers 
    - [Our Culture](http://machenmcchesney.com/careers/culture/)
    - [Benefits](http://machenmcchesney.com/careers/benefits/)
    - [Our Stories](http://machenmcchesney.com/careers/our-stories/)
    - [Current Openings](http://machenmcchesney.com/careers/current-openings-send-resume/)
    - [Accounting Internship Opportunities](http://machenmcchesney.com/careers/students/)
- Contact Us 
    - [Auburn-Opelika Office](http://machenmcchesney.com/contact-us/contact-us-auburn-office/)
    - [Montgomery Office](http://machenmcchesney.com/contact-us/contact-us-montgomery-office/)

# Returning Value Blog

## [Export Tax Incentives for Your Business](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/export-tax-incentives-for-your-business)

Posted by [Melissa Motley, CPA](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/author/melissa-motley-cpa) on Mar 30, 2015, 1:47:00 PM

- [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share)

**What to Look For**

If you’re the owner of a profitable operating business selling into foreign countries, and most of your production costs are in the U.S., you may have an opportunity to gain considerable tax savings.

**The Opportunity**

Since the passage of the Jobs Act of 2004, any U.S. company that directly exports goods it manufactures here may create an Interest Charge (IC) Domestic International Sales Corporation (DISC), or IC-DISC, to act as the “selling agent” for your operating business. What does this mean? An IC-DISC is an underutilized tax incentive that is “the bucket of money in the parking lot.”

The IC-DISC is the selling entity that sells your products to customers in foreign countries. It is a separate legal entity that earns a commission from the operating company for selling your products to foreign customers. These products must have most of their production costs incurred in the U.S., but there are otherwise few restrictions on the kinds of product sales that would qualify.

The opportunity also includes companies providing services, such as architectural or engineering, that are used in building structures in foreign countries as well as companies manufacturing goods that are included in an exported product.

**The Benefit:**

- Sales commissions paid to the IC-DISC are tax deductible to the operating business
- The IC-DISC is a tax free entity so the taxable income it earns escapes taxation
- Dividends paid to shareholders are taxed at favorable dividend rates – 20%
- Profits may be accumulated for estate planning
- Income can be shifted to lower tax-bracket taxpayers

There are a number of complex rules on how to compute the sales commission, but properly structured, you can maximize the income that is sheltered by the IC-DISC.

***Looking for more [Corporate Tax Preparation](http://machenmcchesney.com/services/taxation/corporate-tax-planning-and-preparation) expertise? Contact Melissa Motley, CPA by calling (334) 877-7022 or by leaving us a message below.***

 Topics: [Tax Updates](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/tax-updates)

Search this site on Google

Search Google

### Recent Posts

### Subscribe to Blog

### Posts by Category

- [Business Tax (356)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/business-tax)
- [Business Advisory (238)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/business-advisory)
- [Payroll, HR & Benefits (124)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/payroll-hr-benefits)
- [Audit & Assurance (113)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/audit-assurance)
- [Accounting & Outsourcing (81)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/accounting-outsourcing)
- [Individual Tax (75)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/individual-tax)
- [Tax Planning (33)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/tax-planning)
- [Tax Updates (25)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/tax-updates)
- [Retirement & Wealth Management Planning (18)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/retirement-wealth-management-planning)
- [Taxation (15)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/taxation)
- [Alerts (13)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/alerts)
- [Business Valuation (11)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/business-valuation)
- [News & Events (11)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/news-events)
- [Tax News (11)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/tax-news)
- [Individual Tax Planning (10)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/individual-tax-planning)
- [Not For Profit (10)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/not-for-profit)
- [Retirement Planning (9)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/retirement-planning)
- [Estate Planning (8)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/estate-planning)
- [Manufacturing Industry Insights (7)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/manufacturing-industry-insights)
- [Individuals (1)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/individuals)
- [Insider (1)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/insider)
- [Professional Standard News (1)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/professional-standard-news)

see all

[![Returning\_Value](https://info.machen.cpa/hs-fs/file-2504250850-jpg/Machen-Blog-Image/Returning_Value.jpg)](http://machenmcchesney.com/about-us/mission-and-values/)

- [![AICPA](https://machenmcchesney.com/img/logos/aicpa.jpg)](https://www.aicpa-cima.com/)
- [![NACVA](https://machenmcchesney.com/img/logos/nacva.jpg)](http://www.nacva.com/)
- ![2026 INSIDE Public Accounting Top 400](https://machenmcchesney.com/img/2026-ipa-top-400.jpg)
- ![2026 Best of Auburn-Opelika](https://machenmcchesney.com/img/2026-best-of-auburn-opelika.jpg)
- [![2025 Best of OA](https://machenmcchesney.com/img/2025-best-of-oa.jpg)](https://oanow.com/exclusive/readerschoice/ballot-2025/)
- ![2026 Best of OA Winner](https://machenmcchesney.com/img/2026-best-of-oa-winner.jpg)
- [![2025 Accounting Today Regional Leaders](https://machenmcchesney.com/img/2025-accounting-today-regional-leaders.jpg)](https://www.accountingtoday.com/)
- [![ClearlyRated Best of Accounting](https://machenmcchesney.com/img/2024-best-of-accounting.jpg)](https://www.clearlyrated.com/accounting)
- [![ClearlyRated Best of Accounting Employee](https://machenmcchesney.com/img/2024-best-of-accounting-employee.jpg)](https://www.clearlyrated.com/accounting)

1820 East University Drive, Auburn, AL 36830 | Tel: (334) 887-7022 | Fax: (334) 887-7221

1761 Taliaferro Trail, Montgomery, AL 36117 | Tel: (334) 244-8900 | Fax: (334) 364-0927

† This is not a CPA firm.  
\* Assurance, attest, and audit services provided by Frazier & Deeter, LLC.  
“Frazier & Deeter” is the brand name under which Frazier & Deeter, LLC\* and Frazier & Deeter Advisory, LLC† and its subsidiary entities provide professional services. Frazier & Deeter, LLC\* and Frazier & Deeter Advisory, LLC (and its subsidiary entities)† practice as an alternative practice structure in accordance with the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct and applicable law, regulations and professional standards. Frazier & Deeter, LLC\* is a U.S. licensed independent public accounting firm that provides attest services to its clients. Frazier & Deeter Advisory, LLC† and its subsidiary entities provide tax and business consulting services to their clients. Frazier & Deeter Advisory, LLC† and its subsidiary entities are not licensed U.S. CPA firms.

- [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/675439?trk=tyah&trkInfo=idx%3A1-1-1%2CtarId%3A1424436970395%2Ctas%3Amachen+mcchesney)
- [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/machenmcchesney)
- [Google](https://plus.google.com/101356546927388458481)
- [Twitter](https://twitter.com/machenmcchesney)

[Powered by Strategic 7 Marketing](https://strategicseven.com)