2021 US Code
Title 31 - Money and Finance
Subtitle III - Financial Management
Chapter 31 - Public Debt
Subchapter II - Administrative
Sec. 3124 - Exemption from taxation

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Citation 31 U.S.C. § 3124 (2021)
Section Name §3124. Exemption from taxation
Section Text

(a) Stocks and obligations of the United States Government are exempt from taxation by a State or political subdivision of a State. The exemption applies to each form of taxation that would require the obligation, the interest on the obligation, or both, to be considered in computing a tax, except—

(1) a nondiscriminatory franchise tax or another nonproperty tax instead of a franchise tax, imposed on a corporation; and

(2) an estate or inheritance tax.


(b) The tax status of interest on obligations and dividends, earnings, or other income from evidences of ownership issued by the Government or an agency and the tax treatment of gain and loss from the disposition of those obligations and evidences of ownership is decided under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 1 et seq.). An obligation that the Federal Housing Administration had agreed, under a contract made before March 1, 1941, to issue at a future date, has the tax exemption privileges provided by the authorizing law at the time of the contract. This subsection does not apply to obligations and evidences of ownership issued by the District of Columbia, a territory or possession of the United States, or a department, agency, instrumentality, or political subdivision of the District, territory, or possession.

Source Credit

(Pub. L. 97–258, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 945; Pub. L. 99–514, §2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2095.)

Editorial Notes
Historical and Revision Notes
Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large)
3124(a) 31:742. R.S. §3701; Sept. 22, 1959, Pub. L. 86–346, §105(a), 73 Stat. 622.
3124(b) 31:742a. Feb. 19, 1941, ch. 7, §4, 55 Stat. 9; Mar. 28, 1942, ch. 205, §6, 56 Stat. 190; restated June 25, 1947, ch. 147, 61 Stat. 180; Sept. 22, 1959, Pub. L. 86–346, §202, 73 Stat. 624.

In subsection (a), before clause (1), the words "Except as otherwise provided by law, all . . . bonds, Treasury notes, and other" are omitted as surplus. The words "political subdivision of a State" are substituted for "municipal or local authority" for clarity and consistency. The word "applies" is substituted for "extends" for clarity. The words "directly or indirectly" are omitted as surplus. In clause (1), the word "instead" is substituted for "in lieu" for clarity.

In subsection (b), the words "shares, certificates, stock, or other" and "sale or other" are omitted as surplus. The words "The tax status of . . . and the tax treatment of . . . is decided under the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (26 U.S.C. 1 et seq.)" are substituted for "shall not have any exemption, as such . . . shall not have any special treatment, as such, except as provided under the Internal Revenue Code of 1954" for clarity. The words "on or after March 28, 1942" and 31:742a(a)(1st sentence words after semicolon related to the United States Maritime Commission) are omitted as executed. The last sentence is substituted for 31:742a(a)(last sentence) for clarity. The words "any political subdivision thereof" are omitted as included in "agency or instrumentality". The text of 31:742a(b) and (c) is omitted as unnecessary.


EDITORIAL NOTES AMENDMENTS

1986—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 99–514 substituted "Internal Revenue Code of 1986" for "Internal Revenue Code of 1954".

Publication Title United States Code, 2018 Edition, Supplement 3, Title 31 - MONEY AND FINANCE
Category Bills and Statutes
Collection United States Code
SuDoc Class Number Y 1.2/5:
Contained Within Title 31 - MONEY AND FINANCE
SUBTITLE III - FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
CHAPTER 31 - PUBLIC DEBT
SUBCHAPTER II - ADMINISTRATIVE
Sec. 3124 - Exemption from taxation
Contains section 3124
Date 2021
Laws In Effect As Of Date January 3, 2022
Positive Law Yes
Disposition standard
Statutes at Large References 55 Stat. 9
56 Stat. 190
61 Stat. 180
73 Stat. 622, 624
96 Stat. 945
100 Stat. 2095
Public Law References Public Law 86-346, Public Law 97-258, Public Law 99-514
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