§5761. Civil penalties

(a) Omitting things required or doing things forbidden

Whoever willfully omits, neglects, or refuses to comply with any duty imposed upon him by this chapter, or to do, or cause to be done, any of the things required by this chapter, or does anything prohibited by this chapter, shall in addition to any other penalty provided in this title, be liable to a penalty of $1,000, to be recovered, with costs of suit, in a civil action, except where a penalty under subsection (b) or (c) or under section 6651 or 6653 or part II of subchapter A of chapter 68 may be collected from such person by assessment.

(b) Failure to pay tax

Whoever fails to pay any tax imposed by this chapter at the time prescribed by law or regulations, shall, in addition to any other penalty provided in this title, be liable to a penalty of 5 percent of the tax due but unpaid.

(c) Sale of tobacco products and cigarette papers and tubes for export

Except as provided in subsections (b) and (d) of section 5704-

(1) every person who sells, relands, or receives within the jurisdiction of the United States any tobacco products or cigarette papers or tubes which have been labeled or shipped for exportation under this chapter,

(2) every person who sells or receives such relanded tobacco products or cigarette papers or tubes, and

(3) every person who aids or abets in such selling, relanding, or receiving,

shall, in addition to the tax and any other penalty provided in this title, be liable for a penalty equal to the greater of $1,000 or 5 times the amount of the tax imposed by this chapter. All tobacco products and cigarette papers and tubes relanded within the jurisdiction of the United States, and all vessels, vehicles, and aircraft used in such relanding or in removing such products, papers, and tubes from the place where relanded, shall be forfeited to the United States.

(d) Applicability of section 6665

The penalties imposed by subsections (b) and (c) shall be assessed, collected, and paid in the same manner as taxes, as provided in section 6665(a).

(e) Cross references

For penalty for failure to make deposits or for overstatement of deposits, see section 6656.

(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 717 ; Pub. L. 85–859, title II, §202, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1425 ; Pub. L. 97–34, title VII, §§722(a)(3), 724(b)(5), Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 342 , 345; Pub. L. 97–448, title I, §107(b), Jan. 12, 1983, 96 Stat. 2391 ; Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title VII, §714(h)(2), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 962 ; Pub. L. 101–239, title VII, §7721(c)(4), (5), Dec. 19, 1989, 103 Stat. 2399 ; Pub. L. 105–33, title IX, §9302(h)(1)(B)–(D), Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 673 .)

Amendments

1997-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 105–33, §9302(h)(1)(C), substituted "subsection (b) or (c)" for "subsection (b)".

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 105–33, §9302(h)(1)(B), added subsec. (c). Former subsec. (c) redesignated (d).

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 105–33, §9302(h)(1)(D), substituted "The penalties imposed by subsections (b) and (c)" for "The penalty imposed by subsection (b)".

Pub. L. 105–33, §9302(h)(1)(B), redesignated subsec. (c) as (d). Former subsec. (d) redesignated (e).

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 105–33, §9302(h)(1)(B), redesignated subsec. (d) as (e).

1989-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 101–239, §7721(c)(4), inserted "or part II of subchapter A of chapter 68" after "or 6653".

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 101–239, §7721(c)(5), substituted "6665" for "6662" in heading and "6665(a)" for "6662(a)" in text.

1984-Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 98–369 substituted "section 6662" for "section 6660" in heading and "section 6662(a)" for "section 6660(a)" in text.

1983-Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 97–448 substituted "section 6660" for "section 6659" in heading, and substituted "section 6660(a)" for "section 6659(a)" in text.

1981-Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 97–34, §724(b)(5), added subsec. (c). Former subsec. (c), which related to applicability of section 6656 to failure to make deposit of taxes imposed under subchapter A on the prescribed date and imposition of penalty, was struck out.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 97–34, §§722(a)(3), 724(b)(5), added subsec. (d). Former subsec. (d), which related to applicability of section 6660 and penalties imposed by subsections (b) and (c) to be assessed, collected, and paid in the manner as taxes provided in section 6660(a), was struck out. See subsec. (c).

1958-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 85–859 struck out reference to section 6652 of this title.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 85–859 substituted provisions relating to failure to pay tax for provisions which made persons willfully failing to pay a tax liable, in addition to any other penalty provided in this title, to a penalty of the amount of the tax evaded, or not paid.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 85–859 substituted provisions relating to failure to make deposit of taxes for provisions which authorized a penalty of 5 percent of the tax due but unpaid where a person failed to pay tax at the time prescribed, and required the penalties to be added to the tax and assessed and collected at the same time, in the same manner, and as a part of the tax.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 85–859 added subsec. (d). Similar provisions were formerly contained in subsec. (c) of this section.

Effective Date of 1997 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 105–33 applicable to articles removed, as defined in section 5702(k) of this title, after Dec. 31, 1999, with transition rule, see section 9302(i) of Pub. L. 105–33, set out as a note under section 5701 of this title.

Effective Date of 1989 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 101–239 applicable to returns the due date for which (determined without regard to extensions) is after Dec. 31, 1989, see section 7721(d) of Pub. L. 101–239, set out as a note under section 461 of this title.

Effective Date of 1984 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 98–369 effective as if included in the provision of the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982, Pub. L. 97–248, to which such amendment relates, see section 715 of Pub. L. 98–369, set out as a note under section 31 of this title.

Effective Date of 1983 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 97–448 effective, except as otherwise provided, as if it had been included in the provision of the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981, Pub. L. 97–34, to which such amendment relates, see section 109 of Pub. L. 97–448, set out as a note under section 1 of this title.

Effective Date of 1981 Amendment

Amendment by section 722(a)(3) of Pub. L. 97–34 applicable to returns filed after Dec. 31, 1981, see section 722(a)(4) of Pub. L. 97–34, set out as a note under section 5684 of this title.

Amendment by section 724(b)(5) of Pub. L. 97–34 applicable to returns filed after Aug. 13, 1981, see section 724(c) of Pub. L. 97–34, set out as a note under section 6656 of this title.

Effective Date of 1958 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 85–859 effective Sept. 3, 1958, see section 210(a)(1) of Pub. L. 85–859, set out as an Effective Date note under section 5001 of this title.

Cross References

Authorization for action to recover penalty, see section 7401 of this title.

Jurisdiction of district court of the United States of action for recovery of penalty, see section 1355 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure.

Venue of action for penalty, see section 1395 of Title 28.

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in section 5754 of this title.