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 26 - INTERNAL REVENUE CODE · CHAPTER 61— INFORMATION AND RETURNS · Subchapter A— Returns and Records · § 6020

§ 6020. Returns prepared for or executed by Secretary

347 words·~2 min read·/usc/title-26/section-6020

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

(a)Preparation of return by Secretary If any person shall fail to make a return required by this title or by regulations prescribed thereunder, but shall consent to disclose all information necessary for the preparation thereof, then, and in that case, the Secretary may prepare such return, which, being signed by such person, may be received by the Secretary as the return of such person.
(b)Execution of return by Secretary
(1)Authority of Secretary to execute return If any person fails to make any return required by any internal revenue law or regulation made thereunder at the time prescribed therefor, or makes, willfully or otherwise, a false or fraudulent return, the Secretary shall make such return from his own knowledge and from such information as he can obtain through testimony or otherwise.
(2)Status of returns Any return so made and subscribed by the Secretary shall be prima facie good and sufficient for all legal purposes.
(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 740; Pub. L. 90–364, title I, § 103(e)(3), June 28, 1968, 82 Stat. 264; 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)(4), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 792.)
Connections5 cite this · traces to 2
14 references not yet in our index
  • Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736
  • 68A Stat. 740
  • Pub. L. 90–364, title I, § 103(e)(3)
  • 82 Stat. 264
  • Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, § 1906(b)(13)(A)
  • 90 Stat. 1834
  • Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title IV, § 412(b)(4)
  • 98 Stat. 792
  • Pub. L. 98–369
  • Pub. L. 94–455
  • Pub. L. 90–364
  • section 414(a)(1) of Pub. L. 98–369
  • section 104 of Pub. L. 90–364
  • section 103(f) of Pub. L. 90–364
Citation graph
cites case law
§ 6020
Returns prepared for or executed by Secretary
C.F.R.×2
Fed. Reg.×1
Stat.×1
U.S.C.×1
ActAug. 16, 1954, ch. 736
Stat.68A Stat. 740
Pub. L.Pub. L. 90–364, title I, § 103(e)(3)
Stat.82 Stat. 264
Pub. L.Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, § 1906(b)(13)(A)
Cites 16 · showing 7Cited by 5 across 4 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.