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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 U1/5osKVSvE6qGqIZhiNYE9S9MRoSsP8j1YX39G0LJefIeWFN3hq8f12asnu2xsV
 15GxaPRjq//TTZ6ooQiAoQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-03-036062.txt : 20031216
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-03-036062.hdr.sgml : 20031216
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031216165053
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-03-036062
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031215
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031216

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000051143
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	COMPUTER & OFFICE EQUIPMENT [3570]
		IRS NUMBER:				130871985
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NY
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		NEW ORCHARD ROAD
		CITY:			ARMONK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10504
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9144991900

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		NEW ORCHARD RD
		CITY:			ARMONK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10504

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MOFFAT ROBERT W JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001180460

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-02360
		FILM NUMBER:		031057848

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		IBM CORPORATION
		STREET 2:		NEW ORCHARD ROAD
		CITY:			ARMONK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10504
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9146426704

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		IBM CORPORATION
		STREET 2:		NEW ORCHARD ROAD
		CITY:			ARMOND
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10504
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd25939.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-15</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000051143</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>IBM</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001180460</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MOFFAT ROBERT W JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>IBM CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>NEW ORCHARD ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ARMONK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10504</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Senior Vice President</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Phantom Stock Unit</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-12-15</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>7</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F3"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F3"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underl
yingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>7</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>945</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Phantom stock units convert to the cash value of the company's common stock on a one-for-one basis.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Acquisition of phantom stock units under the IBM Executive Deferred Compensation Plan.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Distribution of phantom stock units under the IBM Executive Deferred Compensation Plan is deferred until separation from the company.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>C. B. Gregory for R. W. Moffat Jr. by power-of-attorney</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-16</signatureDate></ownerSi
gnature></ownershipDocument>



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