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 67— INTEREST · Subchapter A— Interest on Underpayments · § 6603

§ 6603. Deposits made to suspend running of interest on potential underpayments, etc.

671 words·~3 min read·/usc/title-26/section-6603

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

(a)Authority to make deposits other than as payment of tax A taxpayer may make a cash deposit with the Secretary which may be used by the Secretary to pay any tax imposed under subtitle A or B or chapter 41, 42, 43, or 44 which has not been assessed at the time of the deposit. Such a deposit shall be made in such manner as the Secretary shall prescribe.
(b)No interest imposed To the extent that such deposit is used by the Secretary to pay tax, for purposes of section 6601 (relating to interest on underpayments), the tax shall be treated as paid when the deposit is made.
(c)Return of deposit Except in a case where the Secretary determines that collection of tax is in jeopardy, the Secretary shall return to the taxpayer any amount of the deposit (to the extent not used for a payment of tax) which the taxpayer requests in writing.
(d)Payment of interest
(1)In general For purposes of section 6611 (relating to interest on overpayments), except as provided in paragraph (4), a deposit which is returned to a taxpayer shall be treated as a payment of tax for any period to the extent (and only to the extent) attributable to a disputable tax for such period. Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, rules similar to the rules of section 6611(b)(2) shall apply.
(2)Disputable tax
(A)In general For purposes of this section, the term “disputable tax” means the amount of tax specified at the time of the deposit as the taxpayer’s reasonable estimate of the maximum amount of any tax attributable to disputable items.
(B)Safe harbor based on 30-day letter In the case of a taxpayer who has been issued a 30-day letter, the maximum amount of tax under subparagraph
(A)shall not be less than the amount of the proposed deficiency specified in such letter.
(3)Other definitions For purposes of paragraph (2)—
(A)Disputable item The term “disputable item” means any item of income, gain, loss, deduction, or credit if the taxpayer—
(i)has a reasonable basis for its treatment of such item, and
(ii)reasonably believes that the Secretary also has a reasonable basis for disallowing the taxpayer’s treatment of such item.
(B)30-day letter The term “30-day letter” means the first letter of proposed deficiency which allows the taxpayer an opportunity for administrative review in the Internal Revenue Service Independent Office of Appeals.
(4)Rate of interest The rate of interest under this subsection shall be the Federal short-term rate determined under section 6621(b), compounded daily.
(e)Use of deposits
(1)Payment of tax Except as otherwise provided by the taxpayer, deposits shall be treated as used for the payment of tax in the order deposited.
(2)Returns of deposits Deposits shall be treated as returned to the taxpayer on a last-in, first-out basis.
(Added Pub. L. 108–357, title VIII, § 842(a), Oct. 22, 2004, 118 Stat. 1598; amended Pub. L. 116–25, title I, § 1001(b)(1)(D), July 1, 2019, 133 Stat. 985.)
Connections1 cite this · traces to 1
5 references not yet in our index
  • Pub. L. 108–357, title VIII, § 842(a)
  • 118 Stat. 1598
  • 133 Stat. 985
  • Pub. L. 108–357, title VIII, § 842(c)
  • 118 Stat. 1599
Citation graph
cites case law
§ 6603
Deposits made to suspend running of interest on potential underpayments, etc.
Stat.×1
Pub. L.Pub. L. 108–357, title VIII, § 842(a)
Stat.118 Stat. 1598
Stat.133 Stat. 985
Pub. L.Pub. L. 108–357, title VIII, § 842(c)
Stat.118 Stat. 1599
Cites 6Cited by 1 across 1 source
★   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.