The United States taxes domestic corporations on their worldwide income, regardless of where it is earned, and provides credits for foreign income taxes paid. A U.S. parent corporation may directly or indirectly own multiple corporations, including both domestic and foreign subsidiaries. The U.S. taxes the worldwide income of U.S. corporations, whether earned domestically or abroad. However, the active business income earned by foreign subsidiaries is generally eligible for deferral from U.S. tax until it is distributed, usually in the form of dividends, to the U.S. parent corporation or other U.S. shareholders.