Us Code § 4374 - Liability for tax
Full text of Us Code United States Code § 4374 — Liability for tax, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 4374. Liability for tax
The tax imposed by this chapter shall be paid, on the basis of a return, by any person who makes, signs, issues, or sells any of the documents and instruments subject to the tax, or for whose use or benefit the same are made, signed, issued, or sold. The United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof shall not be liable for the tax.
(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 522; Pub. L. 85–859, title I, §141(a), Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1301; Pub. L. 89–44, title VIII, §804(a)(1), (2), June 21, 1965, 79 Stat. 160; Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, §1904(a)(12), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1813.)
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
For provisions of prior sections 4375, 4381 to 4384, see Prior Provisions note preceding section 4371 of this title.
Amendments
1976—Pub. L. 94–455 substituted in section catchline "Liability for tax" for "Payment of tax" and in text provisions relating to payment of tax on basis of a return and to tax-exempt status of United States and its agencies and instrumentalities for provisions relating to placing of stamps on any policy, indemnity bond, or annuity contract referred to in section 4371 and to regulation by Secretary that tax be paid on basis of a return.
1965—Pub. L. 89–44 substituted "Payment of tax" for "Affixing of stamps" in section catchline, and inserted sentence authorizing Secretary or his delegate to provide by regulation for payment on basis of a return of tax imposed by section 4371.
1958—Pub. L. 85–859 reenacted section without change.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1976 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 94–455 effective on first day of first month which begins more than 90 days after Oct. 4, 1976, see section 1904(d) of Pub. L. 94–455, set out as a note under section 4041 of this title.
Effective Date of 1965 Amendment
Pub. L. 89–44, title VIII, §804(c), June 21, 1965, 79 Stat. 160, provided that: "The amendments made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall take effect on July 1, 1965. The amendments made by subsection (b) [amending section 4371 of this title] shall apply with respect to policies, bonds, and contracts with respect to which the tax imposed by section 4371 of the Code is required to be paid on the basis of a return."
Determination of Partnership as Continuing or Terminated Partnership
Pub. L. 85–859, title I, §141(b), Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1304, mandated that only changes in the partnership occurring on or after the effective date specified in section 1(c) of Pub. L. 85–859 shall be taken into account in the determination of whether a partnership is a continuing or terminated one.
Subchapter B—Insured and Self-Insured Health Plans
About This Section
26 U.S.C. § 4374 is part of Title 26 of the United States Code. The United States Code is the official codification of federal statutes maintained by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congress amends the Code through new public laws, which are eventually incorporated into the relevant title.
This section may be cited in legal writing as 26 U.S.C. § 4374. For the most current official text, including any recent amendments, use the official source links below. Do not rely on this page as the sole authority for legal citation or litigation.
How to Read This Statute
Statutes are organized by title, chapter, section, and subsection. Pay attention to words like "shall," "may," "and," and "or," because they determine whether a requirement is mandatory or permissive and whether multiple conditions must all be met. Historical notes and amendments often appear at the end of a section.
Using This Page
This page is intended for research and educational use. Lawyers, students, journalists, and compliance professionals can use it as a starting point, but should always verify the current text through an official government source before relying on it for legal advice, filings, or compliance decisions.