26 USC Subtitle E, CHAPTER 53, Subchapter A, PART III: TAX ON MAKING FIREARMS

From Title 26—INTERNAL REVENUE CODESubtitle E—Alcohol, Tobacco, and Certain Other Excise TaxesCHAPTER 53—MACHINE GUNS, DESTRUCTIVE DEVICES, AND CERTAIN OTHER FIREARMSSubchapter A—Taxes

PART III—TAX ON MAKING FIREARMS

Sec.

5821.

Making tax.

5822.

Making.

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior part III consisted of section 5821, prior to the general revision of this chapter by Pub. L. 90–618, title II, §201, Oct. 22, 1968, 82 Stat. 1227.

A prior part IV consisted of section 5831, prior to the general revision of this chapter by Pub. L. 90–618, title II, §201, Oct. 22, 1968, 82 Stat. 1227.

§5821. Making tax

(a) Rate

There shall be levied, collected, and paid upon the making of a firearm a tax at the rate of—

(1) $200 for each firearm made in the case of a machinegun or a destructive device, and

(2) $0 for any firearm made which is not described in paragraph (1).

(b) By whom paid

The tax imposed by subsection (a) of this section shall be paid by the person making the firearm.

(c) Payment

The tax imposed by subsection (a) of this section shall be payable by the stamp prescribed for payment by the Secretary.

(Added Pub. L. 90–618, title II, §201, Oct. 22, 1968, 82 Stat. 1228; amended Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, §1906(b)(13)(A), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1834; Pub. L. 119–21, title VII, §70436(b), July 4, 2025, 139 Stat. 247.)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 5821, acts Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 724; Sept. 2, 1958, Pub. L. 85–859, title II, §203(d), 72 Stat. 1427, consisted of provisions similar to those comprising this section, prior to the general revision of this chapter by Pub. L. 90–618.

Amendments

2025—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 119–21 amended subsec. (a) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: "There shall be levied, collected, and paid upon the making of a firearm a tax at the rate of $200 for each firearm made."

1976—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 94–455 struck out "or his delegate" after "Secretary".

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2025 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 119–21 applicable to calendar quarters beginning more than 90 days after July 4, 2025, see section 70436(d) of Pub. L. 119–21, set out as a note under section 4182 of this title.

Effective Date

Section effective on first day of first month following October 1968, see section 207 of Pub. L. 90–618, set out as a note under section 5801 of this title.

§5822. Making

No person shall make a firearm unless he has (a) filed with the Secretary a written application, in duplicate, to make and register the firearm on the form prescribed by the Secretary; (b) paid any tax payable on the making and such payment is evidenced by the proper stamp affixed to the original application form; (c) identified the firearm to be made in the application form in such manner as the Secretary may by regulations prescribe; (d) identified himself in the application form in such manner as the Secretary may by regulations prescribe, except that, if such person is an individual, the identification must include his fingerprints and his photograph; and (e) obtained the approval of the Secretary to make and register the firearm and the application form shows such approval. Applications shall be denied if the making or possession of the firearm would place the person making the firearm in violation of law.

(Added Pub. L. 90–618, title II, §201, Oct. 22, 1968, 82 Stat. 1228; amended Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, §1906(b)(13)(A), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1834.)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 5831, act Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 724, made a cross reference to section 4181 of this title relating to an excise tax on pistols, revolvers, and firearms, prior to the general revision of this chapter by Pub. L. 90–618, title II, §201, Oct. 22, 1968, 82 Stat. 1227.

Amendments

1976—Pub. L. 94–455 struck out "or his delegate" after "Secretary".