Tap any paragraph to write a margin note. Your notes collect in the Desk below the text and file under cases with @. The side-by-side margin rail opens on a larger screen.

Code · U.S. Code · Title 15 - COMMERCE AND TRADE · CHAPTER 10B— STATE TAXATION OF INCOME FROM INTERSTATE COMMERCE · SUBCHAPTER I— NET INCOME TAXES · § 381

§ 381. Imposition of net income tax

594 words·~3 min read·/usc/title-15/section-381

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

(a)Minimum standards No State, or political subdivision thereof, shall have power to impose, for any taxable year ending after September 14, 1959, a net income tax on the income derived within such State by any person from interstate commerce if the only business activities within such State by or on behalf of such person during such taxable year are either, or both, of the following:
(1)the solicitation of orders by such person, or his representative, in such State for sales of tangible personal property, which orders are sent outside the State for approval or rejection, and, if approved, are filled by shipment or delivery from a point outside the State; and
(2)the solicitation of orders by such person, or his representative, in such State in the name of or for the benefit of a prospective customer of such person, if orders by such customer to such person to enable such customer to fill orders resulting from such solicitation are orders described in paragraph (1).
(b)Domestic corporations; persons domiciled in or residents of a State The provisions of subsection
(a)shall not apply to the imposition of a net income tax by any State, or political subdivision thereof, with respect to—
(1)any corporation which is incorporated under the laws of such State; or
(2)any individual who, under the laws of such State, is domiciled in, or a resident of, such State.
(c)Sales or solicitation of orders for sales by independent contractors For purposes of subsection (a), a person shall not be considered to have engaged in business activities within a State during any taxable year merely by reason of sales in such State, or the solicitation of orders for sales in such State, of tangible personal property on behalf of such person by one or more independent contractors, or by reason of the maintenance, of an office in such State by one or more independent contractors whose activities on behalf of such person in such State consist solely of making sales, or soliciting orders for sales, or tangible personal property.
(d)Definitions For purposes of this section—
(1)the term “independent contractor” means a commission agent, broker, or other independent contractor who is engaged in selling, or soliciting orders for the sale of, tangible personal property for more than one principal and who holds himself out as such in the regular course of his business activities; and
(2)the term “representative” does not include an independent contractor.
(Pub. L. 86–272, title I, § 101, Sept. 14, 1959, 73 Stat. 555.)
Connections18 cite this
13 references not yet in our index
  • Pub. L. 86–272, title I, § 101
  • 73 Stat. 555
  • Pub. L. 86–272
  • Pub. L. 87–17
  • 75 Stat. 41
  • Pub. L. 87–435
  • 76 Stat. 55
  • Pub. L. 88–42
  • 77 Stat. 67
  • Pub. L. 88–286
  • 78 Stat. 166
  • Pub. L. 94–455, title XXI, § 2121(a)
  • 90 Stat. 1914
Citation graph
cites case law
§ 381
Imposition of net income tax
Bills×12
Stat.×5
U.S.C.×1
Pub. L.Pub. L. 86–272, title I, § 101
Stat.73 Stat. 555
Pub. L.Pub. L. 86–272
Pub. L.Pub. L. 87–17
Stat.75 Stat. 41
Cites 13 · showing 5Cited by 18 across 3 sources
★   the supreme law of the land   ★
Don't Tread on Me
E Pluribus Unum — out of many, one

"If you don't know your rights, you don't have any."

Marginalia · a citizen's law index
A research desk, not legal advice. Always read the cited source before relying on a summary.
Questions or an issue? support@self-law.org
disclaimerMarginalia is a research index, not a law firm. Nothing on this site is legal, tax, or financial advice and no attorney–client relationship is formed by using it. Statutes, regulations, and case law change; summaries, search results, AI output, and member posts may be incomplete, out of date, or wrong. Any interpretation drawn from material on this site should be validated by a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before you act on it.