1. U.S. Code
  2. title 26
  3. subtitle F
  4. chapter 75
  5. subchapter A
  6. part I
  7. § 7217

Collapse to view only § 7217. Prohibition on executive branch influence over taxpayer audits and other investigations

§ 7201. Attempt to evade or defeat tax

Any person who willfully attempts in any manner to evade or defeat any tax imposed by this title or the payment thereof shall, in addition to other penalties provided by law, be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $100,000 ($500,000 in the case of a corporation), or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both, together with the costs of prosecution.

(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 851; Pub. L. 97–248, title III, § 329(a), Sept. 3, 1982, 96 Stat. 618.)

CITE AS: 26 USC 7201

§ 7202. Willful failure to collect or pay over tax

Any person required under this title to collect, account for, and pay over any tax imposed by this title who willfully fails to collect or truthfully account for and pay over such tax shall, in addition to other penalties provided by law, be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $10,000, or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both, together with the costs of prosecution.

(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 851.)

CITE AS: 26 USC 7202

§ 7203. Willful failure to file return, supply information, or pay tax

Any person required under this title to pay any estimated tax or tax, or required by this title or by regulations made under authority thereof to make a return, keep any records, or supply any information, who willfully fails to pay such estimated tax or tax, make such return, keep such records, or supply such information, at the time or times required by law or regulations, shall, in addition to other penalties provided by law, be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $25,000 ($100,000 in the case of a corporation), or imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both, together with the costs of prosecution. In the case of any person with respect to whom there is a failure to pay any estimated tax, this section shall not apply to such person with respect to such failure if there is no addition to tax under section 6654 or 6655 with respect to such failure. In the case of a willful violation of any provision of section 6050I, the first sentence of this section shall be applied by substituting “felony” for “misdemeanor” and “5 years” for “1 year”.

(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 851; Pub. L. 90–364, title I, § 103(e)(5), June 28, 1968, 82 Stat. 264; Pub. L. 97–248, title III, §§ 327, 329(b), Sept. 3, 1982, 96 Stat. 617, 618; Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title IV, § 412(b)(9), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 792;

CITE AS: 26 USC 7203

§ 7204. Fraudulent statement or failure to make statement to employees

In lieu of any other penalty provided by law (except the penalty provided by section 6674) any person required under the provisions of section 6051 to furnish a statement who willfully furnishes a false or fraudulent statement or who willfully fails to furnish a statement in the manner, at the time, and showing the information required under section 6051, or regulations prescribed thereunder, shall, for each such offense, upon conviction thereof, be fined not more than $1,000, or imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both.

(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 852.)

CITE AS: 26 USC 7204

§ 7205. Fraudulent withholding exemption certificate or failure to supply information
(a) Withholding on wages
(b) Backup withholding on interest and dividends
(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 852; Pub. L. 89–368, title I, § 101(e)(5), Mar. 15, 1966, 80 Stat. 62; Pub. L. 97–34, title VII, § 721(b), Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 341; Pub. L. 97–248, title III, §§ 306(b), 308(a), Sept. 3, 1982, 96 Stat. 588, 591; Pub. L. 98–67, title I, §§ 102(a), 107(b), Aug. 5, 1983, 97 Stat. 369, 382; Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title I, § 159(a), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 696; Pub. L. 101–239, title VII, § 7711(b)(2), Dec. 19, 1989, 103 Stat. 2393.)

CITE AS: 26 USC 7205

§ 7206. Fraud and false statements
Any person who—
(1) Declaration under penalties of perjury
(2) Aid or assistance
(3) Fraudulent bonds, permits, and entries
(4) Removal or concealment with intent to defraud
(5) Compromises and closing agreements
In connection with any compromise under section 7122, or offer of such compromise, or in connection with any closing agreement under section 7121, or offer to enter into any such agreement, willfully—
(A) Concealment of property
(B) Withholding, falsifying, and destroying rec­ords
shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $100,000 ($500,000 in the case of a corporation), or imprisoned not more than 3 years, or both, together with the costs of prosecution.
(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 852; Pub. L. 97–248, title III, § 329(c), Sept. 3, 1982, 96 Stat. 618.)

CITE AS: 26 USC 7206

§ 7207. Fraudulent returns, statements, or other documents

Any person who willfully delivers or discloses to the Secretary any list, return, account, statement, or other document, known by him to be fraudulent or to be false as to any material matter, shall be fined not more than $10,000 ($50,000 in the case of a corporation), or imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both. Any person required pursuant to section 6047(b), section 6104(d), or subsection (i) or (j) of section 527 to furnish any information to the Secretary or any other person who willfully furnishes to the Secretary or such other person any information known by him to be fraudulent or to be false as to any material matter shall be fined not more than $10,000 ($50,000 in the case of a corporation), or imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both.

(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 853; Pub. L. 87–792, § 7(m)(3), Oct. 10, 1962, 76 Stat. 831; Pub. L. 91–172, title I, § 101(e)(5), Dec. 30, 1969, 83 Stat. 524; Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, § 1906(b)(13)(A), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1834; Pub. L. 96–603, § 1(d)(5), Dec. 28, 1980, 94 Stat. 3505; Pub. L. 97–248, title III, § 329(d), Sept. 3, 1982, 96 Stat. 619; Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title IV, § 491(d)(51), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 852; Pub. L. 100–203, title X, § 10704(c), Dec. 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 1330–463; Pub. L. 105–277, div. J, title I, § 1004(b)(2)(E), Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–890; Pub. L. 107–276, § 6(d), Nov. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 1933.)

CITE AS: 26 USC 7207

§ 7208. Offenses relating to stamps
Any person who—
(1) Counterfeiting
(2) Mutilation or removal
(3) Use of mutilated, insufficient, or counterfeited stamps
Fraudulently uses, joins, fixes, or places to, with, or upon any vellum, parchment, paper, instrument, writing, package, or article, upon which any tax is imposed by this title,
(A) any adhesive stamp, or the impression of any stamp, die, plate, or other article, which has been cut, torn, or removed from any other vellum, parchment, paper, instrument, writing, package, or article, upon which any tax is imposed by this title; or
(B) any adhesive stamp or the impression of any stamp, die, plate, or other article of insufficient value; or
(C) any forged or counterfeited stamp, or the impression of any forged or counterfeited stamp, die, plate, or other article; or
(4) Reuse of stamps
(A) Preparation for reuse
(B) Trafficking
(C) Possession
(5) Emptied stamped packages
shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $10,000, or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.
(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 853.)

CITE AS: 26 USC 7208

§ 7209. Unauthorized use or sale of stamps

Any person who buys, sells, offers for sale, uses, transfers, takes or gives in exchange, or pledges or gives in pledge, except as authorized in this title or in regulations made pursuant thereto, any stamp, coupon, ticket, book, or other device prescribed by the Secretary under this title for the collection or payment of any tax imposed by this title, shall, upon conviction thereof, be fined not more than $1,000, or imprisoned not more than 6 months, or both.

(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 854; Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, § 1906(b)(13)(A), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1834.)

CITE AS: 26 USC 7209

§ 7210. Failure to obey summons

Any person who, being duly summoned to appear to testify, or to appear and produce books, accounts, records, memoranda, or other papers, as required under sections 6420(e)(2), 6421(g)(2), 6427(j)(2), 7602, 7603, and 7604(b), neglects to appear or to produce such books, accounts, records, memoranda, or other papers, shall, upon conviction thereof, be fined not more than $1,000, or imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both, together with costs of prosecution.

(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 854; Apr. 2, 1956, ch. 160, § 4(h), 70 Stat. 91; June 29, 1956, ch. 462, title II, § 208(d)(3), 70 Stat. 396; Pub. L. 89–44, title II, § 202(c)(4), June 21, 1965, 79 Stat. 139; Pub. L. 91–258, title II, § 207(d)(9), May 21, 1970, 84 Stat. 249; Pub. L. 94–530, § 1(c)(6), Oct. 17, 1976, 90 Stat. 2488; Pub. L. 95–599, title V, § 505(c)(5), Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2760; Pub. L. 96–223, title II, § 232(d)(4)(E), Apr. 2, 1980, 94 Stat. 278; Pub. L. 97–424, title V, § 515(b)(12), Jan. 6, 1983, 96 Stat. 2182; Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title IX, § 911(d)(2)(G), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 1007; Pub. L. 99–514, title XVII, § 1703(e)(2)(G), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2778; Pub. L. 100–647, title I, § 1017(c)(9), (12), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3576, 3577.)

CITE AS: 26 USC 7210

§ 7211. False statements to purchasers or lessees relating to tax
Whoever in connection with the sale or lease, or offer for sale or lease, of any article, or for the purpose of making such sale or lease, makes any statement, written or oral—
(1) intended or calculated to lead any person to believe that any part of the price at which such article is sold or leased, or offered for sale or lease, consists of a tax imposed under the authority of the United States, or
(2) ascribing a particular part of such price to a tax imposed under the authority of the United States,
knowing that such statement is false or that the tax is not so great as the portion of such price ascribed to such tax, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not more than $1,000, or by imprisonment for not more than 1 year, or both.
(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 854.)

CITE AS: 26 USC 7211

§ 7212. Attempts to interfere with administration of internal revenue laws
(a) Corrupt or forcible interference
(b) Forcible rescue of seized property
(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 855.)

CITE AS: 26 USC 7212

§ 7213. Unauthorized disclosure of information
(a) Returns and return information
(1) Federal employees and other persons
(2) State and other employees
(3) Other persons
(4) Solicitation
(5) Shareholders
(b) Disclosure of operations of manufacturer or producer
(c) Disclosures by certain delegates of Secretary
(d) Disclosure of software
(e) Cross references
(1) Penalties for disclosure of information by preparers of returns
(2) Penalties for disclosure of confidential information
(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 855; Pub. L. 85–866, title I, § 90(c), Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1666; Pub. L. 86–778, title I, § 103(s)

CITE AS: 26 USC 7213

§ 7213A. Unauthorized inspection of returns or return information
(a) Prohibitions
(1) Federal employees and other persons
It shall be unlawful for—
(A) any officer or employee of the United States, or
(B) any person described in subsection (l)(18) or (n) of section 6103 or an officer or employee of any such person,
willfully to inspect, except as authorized in this title, any return or return information.
(2) State and other employees
(b) Penalty
(1) In general
(2) Federal officers or employees
(c) Definitions
(Added Pub. L. 105–35, § 2(a), Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 1104; amended Pub. L. 107–210, div. A, title II, § 202(b)(3), Aug. 6, 2002, 116 Stat. 961; Pub. L. 109–280, title XII, § 1224(b)(6), Aug. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 1093.)

CITE AS: 26 USC 7213A

§ 7214. Offenses by officers and employees of the United States
(a) Unlawful acts of revenue officers or agents
Any officer or employee of the United States acting in connection with any revenue law of the United States—
(1) who is guilty of any extortion or willful oppression under color of law; or
(2) who knowingly demands other or greater sums than are authorized by law, or receives any fee, compensation, or reward, except as by law prescribed, for the performance of any duty; or
(3) who with intent to defeat the application of any provision of this title fails to perform any of the duties of his office or employment; or
(4) who conspires or colludes with any other person to defraud the United States; or
(5) who knowingly makes opportunity for any person to defraud the United States; or
(6) who does or omits to do any act with intent to enable any other person to defraud the United States; or
(7) who makes or signs any fraudulent entry in any book, or makes or signs any fraudulent certificate, return, or statement; or
(8) who, having knowledge or information of the violation of any revenue law by any person, or of fraud committed by any person against the United States under any revenue law, fails to report, in writing, such knowledge or information to the Secretary; or
(9) who demands, or accepts, or attempts to collect, directly or indirectly as payment or gift, or otherwise, any sum of money or other thing of value for the compromise, adjustment, or settlement of any charge or complaint for any violation or alleged violation of law, except as expressly authorized by law so to do;
shall be dismissed from office or discharged from employment and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $10,000, or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both. The court may in its discretion award out of the fine so imposed an amount, not in excess of one-half thereof, for the use of the informer, if any, who shall be ascertained by the judgment of the court. The court also shall render judgment against the said officer or employee for the amount of damages sustained in favor of the party injured, to be collected by execution.
(b) Interest of internal revenue officer or employee in tobacco or liquor production
(c) Cross reference
(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 856; Pub. L. 85–859, title II, § 204(5), Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1429; Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, § 1906(b)(13)(A), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1834.)

CITE AS: 26 USC 7214

§ 7215. Offenses with respect to collected taxes
(a) Penalty
(b) Exceptions
This section shall not apply—
(1) to any person, if such person shows that there was reasonable doubt as to (A) whether the law required collection of tax, or (B) who was required by law to collect tax, and
(2) to any person, if such person shows that the failure to comply with the provisions of section 7512(b) was due to circumstances beyond his control.
For purposes of paragraph (2), a lack of funds existing immediately after the payment of wages (whether or not created by the payment of such wages) shall not be considered to be circumstances beyond the control of a person.
(Added Pub. L. 85–321, § 2, Feb. 11, 1958, 72 Stat. 6; amended Pub. L. 97–248, title III, §§ 307(a)(15), 308(a), Sept. 3, 1982, 96 Stat. 590, 591; Pub. L. 98–67, title I, § 102(a), Aug. 5, 1983, 97 Stat. 369.)

CITE AS: 26 USC 7215

§ 7216. Disclosure or use of information by preparers of returns
(a) General rule
Any person who is engaged in the business of preparing, or providing services in connection with the preparation of, returns of the tax imposed by chapter 1, or any person who for compensation prepares any such return for any other person, and who knowingly or recklessly—
(1) discloses any information furnished to him for, or in connection with, the preparation of any such return, or
(2) uses any such information for any purpose other than to prepare, or assist in preparing, any such return,
shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $1,000 ($100,000 in the case of a disclosure or use to which section 6713(b) applies), or imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both, together with the costs of prosecution.
(b) Exceptions
(1) Disclosure
Subsection (a) shall not apply to a disclosure of information if such disclosure is made—
(A) pursuant to any other provision of this title, or
(B) pursuant to an order of a court.
(2) Use
(3) Regulations
(Added Pub. L. 92–178, title III, § 316(a), Dec. 10, 1971, 85 Stat. 529; amended Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, § 1906(b)(13)(A), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1834; Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title IV, § 412(b)(10), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 792; Pub. L. 100–647, title VI, § 6242(b), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3749; Pub. L. 101–239, title VII, § 7739(a), Dec. 19, 1989, 103 Stat. 2404; Pub. L. 116–25, title II, § 2009(b), July 1, 2019, 133 Stat. 1007.)

CITE AS: 26 USC 7216

§ 7217. Prohibition on executive branch influence over taxpayer audits and other investigations
(a) Prohibition
(b) Reporting requirement
(c) Exceptions
Subsection (a) shall not apply to any written request made—
(1) to an applicable person by or on behalf of the taxpayer and forwarded by such applicable person to the Internal Revenue Service;
(2) by an applicable person for disclosure of return or return information under section 6103 if such request is made in accordance with the requirements of such section; or
(3) by the Secretary of the Treasury as a consequence of the implementation of a change in tax policy.
(d) Penalty
(e) Applicable person
For purposes of this section, the term “applicable person” means—
(1) the President, the Vice President, any employee of the executive office of the President, and any employee of the executive office of the Vice President; and
(2) any individual (other than the Attorney General of the United States) serving in a position specified in section 5312 of title 5, United States Code.
(Added Pub. L. 105–206, title I, § 1105(a), July 22, 1998, 112 Stat. 711.)

CITE AS: 26 USC 7217