Us Code § 4962 - Abatement of first tier taxes in certain cases

Full text of Us Code United States Code § 4962 — Abatement of first tier taxes in certain cases, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.

§ 4962. Abatement of first tier taxes in certain cases

(a) General rule

If it is established to the satisfaction of the Secretary that—

(1) a taxable event was due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect, and

(2) such event was corrected within the correction period for such event,


then any qualified first tier tax imposed with respect to such event (including interest) shall not be assessed and, if assessed, the assessment shall be abated and, if collected, shall be credited or refunded as an overpayment.

(b) Qualified first tier tax

For purposes of this section, the term "qualified first tier tax" means any first tier tax imposed by subchapter A, C, D, or G of this chapter, except that such term shall not include the tax imposed by section 4941(a) (relating to initial tax on self-dealing).

(c) Special rule for tax on political expenditures of section 501(c)(3) organizations

In the case of the tax imposed by section 4955(a), subsection (a)(1) shall be applied by substituting "not willful and flagrant" for "due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect".

(Added Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title III, §305(a), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 783; amended Pub. L. 100–203, title X, §10712(b)(1), (2), (4), Dec. 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 1330–467; Pub. L. 105–34, title XVI, §1603(a), Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 1096; Pub. L. 110–172, §3(h), Dec. 29, 2007, 121 Stat. 2475.)


Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 4962 was renumbered section 4963 of this title.

Amendments

2007—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 110–172 substituted "D, or G" for "or D".

1997—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 105–34 substituted "subchapter A, C, or D" for "subchapter A or C".

1987—Pub. L. 100–203, §10712(b)(4), struck out "private foundation" before "first tier taxes" in section catchline.

Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 100–203, §10712(b)(2), substituted "any qualified first tier tax" for "any private foundation first tier tax" in closing provisions.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 100–203, §10712(b)(1), added subsec. (b) and struck out former subsec. (b) "Private foundation first tier tax" which read as follows: "For purposes of this section, the term 'private foundation first tier tax' means any first tier tax imposed by subchapter A of chapter 42, except that such term shall not include the tax imposed by section 4941(a) (relating to initial tax on self-dealing)."

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 100–203, §10712(b)(1), added subsec. (c).


Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2007 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 110–172 effective as if included in the provisions of the Pension Protection Act of 2006, Pub. L. 109–280, to which such amendment relates, see section 3(j) of Pub. L. 110–172, set out as a note under section 170 of this title.

Effective Date of 1997 Amendment

Pub. L. 105–34, title XVI, §1603(c), Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 1097, provided that: "The amendments made by this section [amending this section and section 6033 of this title] shall take effect as if included in the provisions of the Taxpayer Bill of Rights 2 [Pub. L. 104–168] to which such amendments relate."

Effective Date of 1987 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 100–203 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 22, 1987, see section 10712(d) of Pub. L. 100–203, set out as an Effective Date note under section 4955 of this title.

Effective Date

Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title III, §305(c), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 784, provided that: "The amendments made by this section [enacting this section, redesignating former section 4962 as 4963, and amending sections 4942, 6213, and 6503 of this title] shall apply to taxable events occurring after December 31, 1984."

About This Section

26 U.S.C. § 4962 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. § 4962. 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.

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Sources

Source: official Us Code text · Last verified 2026-08-27

Frequently Asked Questions About Us Code § 4962

What does United States Code § 4962 cover?

Section 4962 ("Abatement of first tier taxes in certain cases") is part of the United States Code, the codified statutory law of Us Code. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.

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