26 U.S.C. § 4901
Section 4901 · Payment of tax
Amended 5 times on record
Applied in 17 court decisions — leading case United States v. Sigal (1965)
Most recently applied in United States v. $6,500 in United States Currency (April 1984)
How often courts cite this section
Court decisions citing this, by year.Markers show enactment, consequential amendments, and circuit splits over this section — watch for a citation surge after a change or a disagreement. The dip in the last several years is a data-coverage gap, not a real trend — our corpus holds fewer opinions from the most recent years, so recent citations are undercounted.
No person shall be engaged in or carry on any trade or business subject to the tax imposed by section 4411 (wagering) until he has paid the special tax therefor.
All special taxes shall be imposed as of on the first day of July in each year, or on commencing any trade or business on which such tax is imposed. In the former case the tax shall be reckoned for 1 year, and in the latter case it shall be reckoned proportionately, from the first day of the month in which the liability to a special tax commenced, to and including the 30th day of June following.
Editorial notes U.S. Code · Office of the Law Revision Counsel
Amendments
1978—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 95–600 struck out “or 4461(a)(1) (coin-operated gaming devices)” after “(wagering)”.
1976—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 94–455 struck out subsec. (c) which provided that all special taxes should be paid by stamp and made reference to subtitle F for authority of the Secretary to make assessments where special taxes have not been duly paid by stamp.
1970—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 91–513 struck out references to tax imposed by sections 4721 (narcotic drugs) and 4751 (marihuana).
1965—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 89–44 substituted “4461(a)(1)” for “4461(2)”.
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 95–600 applicable with respect to years beginning after June 30, 1980, see section 521(d)(2) of Pub. L. 95–600, set out as a note under section 4402 of this title.
Effective Date of 1976 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 94–455 effective on first day of first month which begins more than 90 days after Oct. 4, 1976, see section 1904(d) of Pub. L. 94–455, set out as a note under section 4041 of this title.
Effective Date of 1970 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 91–513 effective on first day of seventh calendar month that begins after Oct. 26, 1970, see section 1105(a) of Pub. L. 91–513, set out as an Effective Date note under section 951 of Title 21, Food and Drugs.
Effective Date of 1965 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 89–44 applicable on and after July 1, 1965, see section 701(c)(2) of Pub. L. 89–44, set out in part as a note under section 4402 of this title.
Savings Provision
Prosecution for any violation of law occurring, and civil seizures or forfeitures and injunctive proceedings commenced, prior to the effective date of amendment of this section by section 1102 of Pub. L. 91–513 not to be affected or abated by reason thereof, see section 1103 of Pub. L. 91–513, set out as a note under section 171 of Title 21, Food and Drugs.
Persons Engaged in Activities on December 1, 1974, Requiring Payment of Wagering Tax
Person on Dec. 1, 1974, engaging in an activity making him liable for payment of tax imposed by section 4411 of this title (as in effect on such date) to be treated as commencing such activity on such date for purposes of this section and section 4411 of this title, see section 3(d)(2) of Pub. L. 93–499, set out as a note under section 4411 of this title.
Cross References
Wagering, occupational tax, section as applicable to, see section 4413 of this title.