26 USC 3406 - Backup withholding

View all text of Chapter 24 [§ 3401 - § 3456]

§ 3406. Backup withholding

(a) Requirement to deduct and withhold

(1) In generalIn the case of any reportable payment, if—

(A) the payee fails to furnish his TIN to the payor in the manner required,

(B) the Secretary notifies the payor that the TIN furnished by the payee is incorrect,

(D) there has been a payee certification failure described in subsection (d),

then the payor shall deduct and withhold from such payment a tax equal to the product of the fourth lowest rate of tax applicable under section 1(c) 1

1 See References in Text note below.

and such payment.

(2) Subparagraphs (C) and (D) of paragraph (1) apply only to interest and dividend payments

(b) Reportable payment, etc.For purposes of this section—

(1) Reportable paymentThe term “reportable payment” means—

(A) any reportable interest or dividend payment, and

(B) any other reportable payment.

(2) Reportable interest or dividend payment

(A) In generalThe term “reportable interest or dividend payment” means any payment of a kind, and to a payee, required to be shown on a return required under—

(i) section 6049(a) (relating to payments of interest),

(ii) section 6042(a) (relating to payments of dividends), or

(iii) section 6044 (relating to payments of patronage dividends) but only to the extent such payment is in money.

(B) Special rule for patronage dividends

(3) Other reportable paymentThe term “other reportable payment” means any payment of a kind, and to a payee, required to be shown on a return required under—

(A) section 6041 (relating to certain information at source),

(B) section 6041A(a) (relating to payments of remuneration for services),

(D) section 6050A (relating to reporting requirements of certain fishing boat operators), but only to the extent such payment is in money and represents a share of the proceeds of the catch,

(E) section 6050N (relating to payments of royalties), or

(F) section 6050W (relating to returns relating to payments made in settlement of payment card transactions).

(4) Whether payment is of reportable kind determined without regard to minimum amount

(5) Exception for certain small paymentsTo the extent provided in regulations, the term “reportable payment” shall not include any payment which—

(A) does not exceed $10, and

(B) if determined for a 1-year period, would not exceed $10.

(6) Other reportable payments include payments described in section 6041(a) or 6041A(a) only where aggregate for calendar year is $600 or moreAny payment of a kind required to be shown on a return required under section 6041(a) or 6041A(a) which is made during any calendar year shall be treated as a reportable payment only if—

(A) the aggregate amount of such payment and all previous payments described in such sections by the payor to the payee during such calendar year equals or exceeds $600,

(B) the payor was required under section 6041(a) or 6041A(a) to file a return for the preceding calendar year with respect to payments to the payee, or

(C) during the preceding calendar year, the payor made reportable payments to the payee with respect to which amounts were required to be deducted and withheld under subsection (a).

(7) Exception for certain window payments of interest, etc.For purposes of subparagraphs (C) and (D) of subsection (a)(1), the term “reportable interest or dividend payment” shall not include any payment—

(A) in redemption of a coupon on a bearer instrument or in redemption of a United States savings bond, or

(B) to the extent provided in regulations, of interest on instruments similar to those described in subparagraph (A).

The preceding sentence shall not apply for purposes of determining whether there is payee underreporting described in subsection (c).

(1) Notified payee underreportingIf—

(A) the Secretary determines with respect to any payee that there has been payee underreporting,

(B) at least 4 notices have been mailed by the Secretary to the payee (over a period of at least 120 days) with respect to the underreporting, and

(C) in the case of any payee who has filed a return for the taxable year, any deficiency of tax attributable to such failure has been assessed,

the Secretary may notify payors of reportable interest or dividend payments with respect to such payee of the requirement to deduct and withhold under subsection (a)(1)(C) (but not the reasons for the withholding under subsection (a)(1)(C)).

(2) Payee underreporting definedFor purposes of this section, there has been payee underreporting if for any taxable year the Secretary determines that—

(A) the payee failed to include in his return of tax under chapter 1 for such year any portion of a reportable interest or dividend payment required to be shown on such return, or

(B) the payee may be required to file a return for such year and to include a reportable interest or dividend payment in such return, but failed to file such return.

(3) Determination by Secretary to stop (or not to start) withholding

(A) In generalIf the Secretary determines that—

(i) there was no payee underreporting,

(ii) any payee underreporting has been corrected (and any tax, penalty, or interest with respect to the payee underreporting has been paid),

(iii) withholding under subsection (a)(1)(C) has caused (or would cause) undue hardship to the payee and it is unlikely that any payee underreporting by such payee will occur again, or

(iv) there is a bona fide dispute as to whether there has been any payee underreporting,

then the Secretary shall take the action described in subparagraph (B).

(B) Secretary to take action to stop (or not to start) withholdingFor purposes of subparagraph (A), if at the time of the Secretary’s determination under subparagraph (A)—

(i) no notice has been given under paragraph (1) to any payor with respect to the underreporting, the Secretary shall not give any such notice, or

(ii) if such notice has been given, the Secretary shall—(I) provide the payee with a written certification that withholding under subsection (a)(1)(C) is to stop, and(II) notify the applicable payors (and brokers) that such withholding is to stop.

(C) Time for taking action where notice to payor has been givenIn any case where notice has been given under paragraph (1) to any payor with respect to any underreporting, if the Secretary makes a determination under subparagraph (A) during the 12-month period ending on October 15 of any calendar year—

(i) except as provided in clause (ii), the Secretary shall take the action described in subparagraph (B)(ii) to bring about the stopping of withholding no later than December 1 of such calendar year, or

(ii) in the case of—(I) a no payee underreporting determination under clause (i) of subparagraph (A), or(II) a hardship determination under clause (iii) of subparagraph (A),

such action shall be taken no later than the 45th day after the day on which the Secretary made the determination.

(D) Opportunity to request determinationThe Secretary shall prescribe procedures under which—

(i) a payee may request a determination under subparagraph (A), and

(ii) the payee may provide information with respect to such request.

(4) Payor notifies payee of withholding because of payee underreporting

(5) Payee may be required to notify Secretary who his payors and brokers areFor purposes of this section, the Secretary may require any payee of reportable interest or dividend payments who is subject to withholding under subsection (a)(1)(C) to notify the Secretary of—

(A) all payors from whom the payee receives reportable interest or dividend payments, and

(B) all brokers with whom the payee has accounts which may involve reportable interest or dividend payments.

The Secretary may notify any such broker that such payee is subject to withholding under subsection (a)(1)(C).

(d) Interest and dividend backup withholding applies to new accounts and instruments unless payee certifies that he is not subject to such withholding

(1) In general

(2) Special rules for readily tradable instruments

(A) In generalSubsection (a)(1)(D) shall apply to any reportable interest or dividend payment to any payee on any readily tradable instrument if (and only if) the payor was notified by a broker under subparagraph (B) or no certification was provided to the payor by the payee under paragraph (1) and—

(i) such instrument was acquired directly by the payee from the payor, or

(ii) such instrument is held by the payor as nominee for the payee.

(B) Broker notifies payorIf—

(i) a payee acquires any readily tradable instrument through a broker, and

(ii) with respect to such acquisition—(I) the payee fails to furnish his TIN to the broker in the manner required under subsection (a)(1)(A),(II) the Secretary notifies such broker before such acquisition that the TIN furnished by the payee is incorrect,(III) the Secretary notifies such broker before such acquisition that such payee is subject to withholding under subsection (a)(1)(C), or(IV) the payee does not provide a certification to such broker under subparagraph (C),

such broker shall, within such period as the Secretary may prescribe by regulations (but not later than 15 days after such acquisition), notify the payor that such payee is subject to withholding under subparagraph (A), (B), (C), or (D) of subsection (a)(1), respectively.

(C) Time for payee to provide certification to brokerIn the case of any readily tradable instrument acquired by a payee through a broker, the certification described in paragraph (1) may be provided by the payee to such broker—

(i) at any time after the payee’s account with the broker was established and before the acquisition of such instrument, or

(ii) in connection with the acquisition of such instrument.

(3) Exception for existing accounts, etc.This subsection and subsection (a)(1)(D) shall not apply to any reportable interest or dividend payment which is paid or credited—

(A) in the case of interest or any other amount of a kind reportable under section 6049, with respect to any account (whatever called) established before January 1, 1984, or with respect to any instrument acquired before January 1, 1984,

(B) in the case of dividends or any other amount reportable under section 6042, on any stock or other instrument acquired before January 1, 1984, or

(C) in the case of patronage dividends or other amounts of a kind reportable under section 6044, with respect to any membership acquired, or contract entered into, before January 1, 1984.

(4) Exception for readily tradable instruments acquired through existing brokerage accountsSubparagraph (B) of paragraph (2) shall not apply with respect to a readily tradable instrument which was acquired through an account with a broker if—

(A) such account was established before January 1, 1984, and

(B) during 1983, such broker bought or sold instruments for the payee (or acted as a nominee for the payee) through such account.

The preceding sentence shall not apply with respect to any readily tradable instrument acquired through such account after the broker was notified by the Secretary that the payee is subject to withholding under subsection (a)(1)(C).

(e) Period for which withholding is in effect

(1) Failure to furnish TIN

(2) Notification of incorrect numberIn any case in which the Secretary notifies the payor that the TIN furnished by the payee is incorrect, subsection (a) shall apply to any reportable payment made by such payor—

(A) after the close of the 30th day after the day on which the payor received such notification, and

(B) before the payee furnishes another TIN in the manner required.

(3) Notified payee underreporting described in subsection (c)

(A) In generalIn the case of any notified payee underreporting described in subsection (c), subsection (a) shall apply to any reportable interest or dividend payment made—

(i) after the close of the 30th day after the day on which the payor received notification from the Secretary of such underreporting, and

(ii) before the stop date.

(B) Stop dateFor purposes of this subsection, the term “stop date” means the determination effective date or, if later, the earlier of—

(i) the day on which the payor received notification from the Secretary under subsection (c)(3)(B) to stop withholding, or

(ii) the day on which the payor receives from the payee a certification provided by the Secretary under subsection (c)(3)(B).

(i) In general

(ii) Determination that there was no underreporting; hardship

(4) Failure to provide certification that payee is not subject to withholding

(A) In general

(B) Special rule for readily tradable instruments acquired through broker where notification

(5) 30-day grace periods

(A) Start-up

(B) Stopping

(f) Confidentiality of information

(1) In general

(2) Cross reference

(g) Exceptions

(1) Payments to certain payeesSubsection (a) shall not apply to any payment made to—

(A) any organization or governmental unit described in subparagraph (B), (C), (D), (E), or (F) of section 6049(b)(4), or

(B) any other person specified in regulations.

(2) Amounts for which withholding otherwise required

(3) Exemption while waiting for TIN

(h) Other definitions and special rulesFor purposes of this section—

(1) Obviously incorrect number

(2) Payee furnishes 2 incorrect TINs

(3) Joint payees

(4) Payor defined

(5) Broker

(A) In general

(B) Only 1 broker per acquisition

(D) Real estate broker not treated as a broker

(6) Readily tradable instrumentThe term “readily tradable instrument” means—

(A) any instrument which is part of an issue any portion of which is traded on an established securities market (within the meaning of section 453(f)(5)), and

(B) except as otherwise provided in regulations prescribed by the Secretary, any instrument which is regularly quoted by brokers or dealers making a market.

(7) Original issue discount

(8) Requirement of notice to payee

(9) Requirement of notice to Secretary

(10) Coordination with other sections

(i) Regulations

(Added Pub. L. 98–67, title I, § 104(a), Aug. 5, 1983, 97 Stat. 371; amended Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title I, § 152(a), title VII, § 722(h)(1), (2), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 691, 975; Pub. L. 99–514, title XV, §§ 1521(b), 1523(b)(1), title XVIII, § 1899A(46), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2746, 2748, 2961; Pub. L. 100–647, title I, § 1018(u)(44), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3592; Pub. L. 102–486, title XIX, § 1935(a), Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 3032; Pub. L. 107–16, title I, § 101(c)(10), June 7, 2001,