FEDERAL · 26 U.S.C. · Chapter Subchapter A—Additions to the Tax and Additional Amounts

Imposition of accuracy-related penalty on underpayments

26 U.S.C. § 6662
Title26Internal Revenue Code
ChapterSubchapter A—Additions to the Tax and Additional Amounts
PartII

This text of 26 U.S.C. § 6662 (Imposition of accuracy-related penalty on underpayments) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
26 U.S.C. § 6662.

Text

(a)Imposition of penalty If this section applies to any portion of an underpayment of tax required to be shown on a return, there shall be added to the tax an amount equal to 20 percent of the portion of the underpayment to which this section applies.
(b)Portion of underpayment to which section applies This section shall apply to the portion of any underpayment which is attributable to 1 or more of the following:
(1)Negligence or disregard of rules or regulations.
(2)Any substantial understatement of income tax.
(3)Any substantial valuation misstatement under chapter 1.
(4)Any substantial overstatement of pension liabilities.
(5)Any substantial estate or gift tax valuation understatement.
(6)Any disallowance of claimed tax benefits by reason of a transaction lacking economic substa

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Klamath Strategic Investment Fund Ex Rel. St. Croix Ventures v. United States
568 F.3d 537 (Fifth Circuit, 2009)
100 case citations
Petaluma FX Partners, LLC v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue Service
591 F.3d 649 (D.C. Circuit, 2010)
84 case citations
Long-Term Capital Holdings v. United States
150 F. App'x 40 (Second Circuit, 2005)
40 case citations
Keller v. Commissioner
556 F.3d 1056 (Ninth Circuit, 2009)
38 case citations
Filios v. Commissioner
224 F.3d 16 (First Circuit, 2000)
35 case citations
In re G-I Holdings Inc.
218 F.R.D. 428 (D. New Jersey, 2003)
25 case citations
Chemtech Royalty Associates, L.P. v. United States
823 F.3d 282 (Fifth Circuit, 2016)
10 case citations
Rick Jacobsen v. CIR
950 F.3d 414 (Seventh Circuit, 2020)
7 case citations
Curtis Inv. Co. v. Comm'r
909 F.3d 1339 (Eleventh Circuit, 2018)
6 case citations
Hiett v. Director of Revenue
899 S.W.2d 870 (Supreme Court of Missouri, 1995)
5 case citations
Xcel Energy, Inc. v. United States
237 F.R.D. 416 (D. Minnesota, 2006)
3 case citations
Texture Source, Inc. v. United States
851 F. Supp. 2d 1260 (D. Nevada, 2012)
2 case citations
Kovacevich v. Commissioner
177 F. App'x 561 (Ninth Circuit, 2006)
2 case citations
Cohen v. United States
999 F. Supp. 2d 650 (S.D. New York, 2014)
2 case citations
Intertan Inc. v. Commissioner
117 F. App'x 348 (Fifth Circuit, 2004)
1 case citations
Bradford Sarvak v. Cir
(Ninth Circuit, 2020)
Keller v. Cir
(Ninth Circuit, 2009)
Green v. Commissioner
312 F. App'x 929 (Ninth Circuit, 2009)
James Cooper v. Cir
(Ninth Circuit, 2017)

Source Credit

History

(Added Pub. L. 101–239, title VII, §7721(a), Dec. 19, 1989, 103 Stat. 2395; amended Pub. L. 101–508, title XI, §11312(a), (b), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–454, 1388–455; Pub. L. 103–66, title XIII, §§13236(a)–(d), 13251(a), Aug. 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 505, 506, 531; Pub. L. 103–465, title VII, §744(a), (b), Dec. 8, 1994, 108 Stat. 5011; Pub. L. 105–34, title X, §1028(c), Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 928; Pub. L. 108–357, title VIII, §§812(b), (d), (e)(1), 819(a), (b), Oct. 22, 2004, 118 Stat. 1578, 1580, 1584; Pub. L. 109–135, title IV, §§403(x)(1), 412(aaa), Dec. 21, 2005, 119 Stat. 2629, 2641; Pub. L. 109–280, title XII, §1219(a)(1), (2), Aug. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 1083; Pub. L. 111–147, title V, §512(a), Mar. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 110; Pub. L. 111–152, title I, §1409(b)(1), (2), Mar. 30, 2010, 124 Stat. 1068, 1069; Pub. L. 113–295, div. A, title II, §208(a), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 4028; Pub. L. 114–41, title II, §2004(c), July 31, 2015, 129 Stat. 456; Pub. L. 115–97, title I, §11011(c), Dec. 22, 2017, 131 Stat. 2070; Pub. L. 115–141, div. T, §101(a)(2)(A), div. U, title I, §104(a), title IV, §401(a)(303), (304), Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1155, 1170, 1199; Pub. L. 116–260, div. EE, title II, §212(b)(1), (2), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 3067; Pub. L. 117–328, div. T, title VI, §605(a)(2)(A), (B), Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 5394; Pub. L. 119–21, title VII, §70512(j)(1), July 4, 2025, 139 Stat. 268.)

Editorial Notes

Editorial Notes

Codification
Another section 212(b) of div. EE of Pub. L. 116–260 amended section 63 of this title.
Section 1409(b)(1), (2) of Pub. L. 111–152, which directed the amendment of section 6662 without specifying the act to be amended, was executed to this section, which is section 6662 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, to reflect the probable intent of Congress. See 2010 Amendment notes below.
Section 1219(a)(1), (2) of Pub. L. 109–280, which directed the amendment of section 6662 without specifying the act to be amended, was executed to this section, which is section 6662 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, to reflect the probable intent of Congress. See 2006 Amendment notes below.

Prior Provisions
A prior section 6662, acts Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 827, §6659; May 14, 1960, Pub. L. 86–470, §1, 74 Stat. 132; Dec. 30, 1969, Pub. L. 91–172, title I, §101(j)(51), 83 Stat. 531; Sept. 2, 1974, Pub. L. 93–406, title II, §1016(a)(19), 88 Stat. 931; renumbered §6660, Aug. 13, 1981, Pub. L. 97–34, title VII, §722(a)(1), 95 Stat. 341; renumbered §6662, Sept. 3, 1982, Pub. L. 97–248, title III, §323(a), 96 Stat. 613, directed that additions be treated as tax and set procedure for assessing certain additions to tax, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 101–239, title VII, §7721(a), Dec. 19, 1989, 103 Stat. 2395, applicable to returns the due date for which (determined without regard to extensions) is after Dec. 31, 1989. See section 6665 of this title.

Amendments
2025—Subsec. (m). Pub. L. 119–21 added subsec. (m).
2022—Subsec. (b)(10). Pub. L. 117–328, §605(a)(2)(A), added par. (10).
Subsec. (h)(2)(D). Pub. L. 117–328, §605(a)(2)(B), added subpar. (D).
2020—Subsec. (b)(9). Pub. L. 116–260, §212(b)(1), added par. (9).
Subsec. (l). Pub. L. 116–260, §212(b)(2), added subsec. (l).
2018—Subsec. (d)(1)(C). Pub. L. 115–141, §101(a)(2)(A), substituted "any deduction" for "the deduction".
Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 115–141, §401(a)(303), substituted "section 6664(d)(3)" for "section 6664(d)(2)".
Subsecs. (i), (j). Pub. L. 115–141, §401(a)(304), transferred subsec. (i) to appear before subsec. (j).
Subsec. (k). Pub. L. 115–141, §104(a), amended subsec. (k) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: "For purposes of this section, there is an 'inconsistent estate basis' if the basis of property claimed on a return exceeds the basis as determined under section 1014(f)."
2017—Subsec. (d)(1)(C). Pub. L. 115–97 added subpar. (C).
2015—Subsec. (b)(8). Pub. L. 114–41, §2004(c)(1), added par. (8).
Subsec. (k). Pub. L. 114–41, §2004(c)(2), added subsec. (k).
2014—Subsec. (b)(7). Pub. L. 113–295, §208(a), amended directory language of Pub. L. 111–147, §512(a)(1). See 2010 Amendment note below.
2010—Subsec. (b)(6). Pub. L. 111–152, §1409(b)(1), added par. (6). See Codification note above.
Subsec. (b)(7). Pub. L. 111–147, §512(a)(1), as amended by Pub. L. 113–295, §208(a), added par. (7).
Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 111–152, §1409(b)(2), added subsec. (i). See Codification note above.
Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 111–147, §512(a)(2), added subsec. (j).
2006—Subsec. (e)(1)(A). Pub. L. 109–280, §1219(a)(1)(A), substituted "150 percent" for "200 percent". See Codification note above.
Subsec. (g)(1). Pub. L. 109–280, §1219(a)(1)(B), substituted "65 percent" for "50 percent". See Codification note above.
Subsec. (h)(2)(A)(i), (ii). Pub. L. 109–280, §1219(a)(2)(A), amended cls. (i) and (ii) generally. Prior to amendment, cls. (i) and (ii) read as follows:
"(i) '400 percent' for '200 percent' each place it appears,
"(ii) '25 percent' for '50 percent', and".
See Codification note above.
Subsec. (h)(2)(C). Pub. L. 109–280, §1219(a)(2)(B), substituted " '40 percent' for '65 percent' " for " '25 percent' for '50 percent' ". See Codification note above.
2005—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 109–135, §403(x)(1), inserted at end "Except as provided in paragraph (1) or (2)(B) of section 6662A(e), this section shall not apply to the portion of any underpayment which is attributable to a reportable transaction understatement on which a penalty is imposed under section 6662A."
Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 109–135, §412(aaa), struck out "the" before "1 or more".
2004—Pub. L. 108–357, §812(e)(1), inserted "on underpayments" after "penalty" in section catchline.
Subsec. (d)(1)(B). Pub. L. 108–357, §819(a), reenacted heading without change and amended text of subpar. (B) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: "In the case of a corporation other than an S corporation or a personal holding company (as defined in section 542), paragraph (1) shall be applied by substituting '$10,000' for '$5,000'."
Subsec. (d)(2)(A). Pub. L. 108–357, §812(b), inserted concluding provisions.
Subsec. (d)(2)(C). Pub. L. 108–357, §812(d), amended subpar. (C) generally, substituting provisions relating to inapplicability of subpar. (B) to any item attributable to a tax shelter and defining the term "tax shelter" for provisions relating to, in the case of any item of a taxpayer other than a corporation which is attributable to a tax shelter, inapplicability of subpar. (B)(ii) and inapplicability of subpar. (B)(i), unless the taxpayer reasonably believed that the tax treatment of such item by the taxpayer was more likely than not the proper treatment, inapplicability of subpar. (B) to any item of a corporation which is attributable to a tax shelter, and provisions defining the term "tax shelter".
Subsec. (d)(2)(D). Pub. L. 108–357, §819(b)(2), struck out heading and text of subpar. (D). Text read as follows: "The Secretary shall prescribe (and revise not less frequently than annually) a list of positions—
"(i) for which the Secretary believes there is not substantial authority, and
"(ii) which affect a significant number of taxpayers.
Such list (and any revision thereof) shall be published in the Federal Register."
Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 108–357, §819(b)(1), added par. (3).
1997—Subsec. (d)(2)(B). Pub. L. 105–34, §1028(c)(1), inserted concluding provisions.
Subsec. (d)(2)(C)(iii). Pub. L. 105–34, §1028(c)(2), substituted "a significant purpose" for "the principal purpose" in concluding provisions.
1994—Subsec. (d)(2)(C)(i). Pub. L. 103–465, §744(b)(1), substituted "In the case of any item of a taxpayer other than a corporation which is" for "In the case of any item" in introductory provisions.
Subsec. (d)(2)(C)(ii). Pub. L. 103–465, §744(a), added cl. (ii). Former cl. (ii) redesignated (iii).
Subsec. (d)(2)(C)(iii). Pub. L. 103–465, §744(a), (b)(2), redesignated cl. (ii) as (iii) and substituted "this subparagraph" for "clause (i)" in introductory provisions.
1993—Subsec. (d)(2)(B)(ii). Pub. L. 103–66, §13251(a), amended cl. (ii) generally. Prior to amendment, cl. (ii) read as follows: "any item with respect to which the relevant facts affecting the item's tax treatment are adequately disclosed in the return or in a statement attached to the return."
Subsec. (e)(1)(B)(ii). Pub. L. 103–66, §13236(a), amended cl. (ii) generally. Prior to amendment, cl. (ii) read as follows: "the net section 482 transfer price adjustment for the taxable year exceeds $10,000,000."
Subsec. (e)(3)(B). Pub. L. 103–66, §13236(b), amended heading and text of subpar. (B) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: "For purposes of determining whether the $10,000,000 threshold requirement of paragraph (1)(B)(ii) is met, there shall be excluded—
"(i) any portion of the net increase in taxable income referred to in subparagraph (A) which is attributable to any redetermination of a price if it is shown that there was a reasonable cause for the taxpayer's determination of such price and that the taxpayer acted in good faith with respect to such price, and
"(ii) any portion of such net increase which is attributable to any transaction solely between foreign corporations unless, in the case of any of such corporations, the treatment of such transaction affects the determination of income from sources within the United States or taxable income effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the United States."
Subsec. (e)(3)(D). Pub. L. 103–66, §13236(c), added subpar. (D).
Subsec. (h)(2)(A)(iii). Pub. L. 103–66, §13236(d), amended cl. (iii) generally. Prior to amendment, cl. (iii) read as follows: " '$20,000,000' for '$10,000,000',".
1990—Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 101–508, §11312(b)(1), amended par. (3) generally, substituting "misstatement" for "overstatement".
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 101–508, §11312(a), substituted "misstatement" for "overstatement" in heading and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows:
"(1) In general.—For purposes of this section, there is a substantial valuation overstatement under chapter 1 if the value of any property (or the adjusted basis of any property) claimed on any return of tax imposed by chapter 1 is 200 percent or more of the amount determined to be the correct amount of such valuation or adjusted basis (as the case may be).
"(2) Limitation.—No penalty shall be imposed by reason of subsection (b)(3) unless the portion of the underpayment for the taxable year attributable to substantial valuation overstatements under chapter 1 exceeds $5,000 ($10,000 in the case of a corporation other than an S corporation or a personal holding company (as defined in section 542))."
Subsec. (h)(2)(A). Pub. L. 101–508, §11312(b)(2), amended subpar. (A) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (A) read as follows: "any substantial valuation overstatement under chapter 1 as determined under subsection (e) by substituting '400 percent' for '200 percent',".

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2025 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 119–21 applicable to taxable years beginning after July 4, 2025, see section 70512(l)(1) of Pub. L. 119–21, set out in a note under section 45 of this title.

Effective Date of 2022 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 117–328 applicable to contributions made after Dec. 29, 2022, see section 605(c)(1) of Pub. L. 117–328, set out as a note under section 170 of this title.

Effective Date of 2020 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 116–260 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 2020, see section 212(d) of div. EE of Pub. L. 116–260, set out as a note under section 62 of this title.

Effective Date of 2018 Amendment
Amendment by section 101(a)(2)(A) of Pub. L. 115–141 effective as if included in section 11011 of Pub. L. 115–97, see section 101(d) of Pub. L. 115–141, set out as a note under section 62 of this title.
Pub. L. 115–141, div. U, title I, §104(c), Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1170, provided that: "The amendments made by this section [amending this section and section 9503 of this title] shall take effect as if included in the provision of the Surface Transportation and Veterans Health Care Choice Improvement Act of 2015 [Pub. L. 114–41] to which they relate."

Effective Date of 2017 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 115–97 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 2017, see section 11011(e) of Pub. L. 115–97, set out as a note under section 62 of this title.

Effective Date of 2015 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 114–41 applicable to property with respect to which an estate tax return is filed after July 31, 2015, see section 2004(d) of Pub. L. 114–41, set out as a note under section 1014 of this title.

Effective Date of 2014 Amendment
Pub. L. 113–295, div. A, title II, §208(b), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 4028, provided that: "The amendment made by this section [amending this section] shall take effect as if included in the provision of the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act [Pub. L. 111–147] to which it relates."

Effective Date of 2010 Amendment
Pub. L. 111–152, title I, §1409(e), Mar. 30, 2010, 124 Stat. 1070, provided that:
"(1) In general.—Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the amendments made by this section [amending this section and sections 6662A, 6664, 6676, and 7701 of this title] shall apply to transactions entered into after the date of the enactment of this Act [Mar. 30, 2010].
"(2) Underpayments.—The amendments made by subsections (b) and (c)(1) [amending this section and sections 6662A and 6664 of this title] shall apply to underpayments attributable to transactions entered into after the date of the enactment of this Act.
"(3) Understatements.—The amendments made by subsection (c)(2) [amending section 6664 of this title] shall apply to understatements attributable to transactions entered into after the date of the enactment of this Act.
"(4) Refunds and credits.—The amendment made by subsection (d) [amending section 6676 of this title] shall apply to refunds and credits attributable to transactions entered into after the date of the enactment of this Act."
Pub. L. 111–147, title V, §512(b), Mar. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 111, provided that: "The amendments made by this section [amending this section] shall apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act [Mar. 18, 2010]."

Effective Date of 2006 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 109–280 applicable to returns filed after Aug. 17, 2006, with special rule for certain easements, see section 1219(e)(1), (3) of Pub. L. 109–280, set out as a note under section 170 of this title.

Effective Date of 2005 Amendment
Amendment by section 403(x)(1) of Pub. L. 109–135 effective as if included in the provision of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, Pub. L. 108–357, to which such amendment relates, see section 403(nn) of Pub. L. 109–135, set out as a note under section 26 of this title.

Effective Date of 2004 Amendment
Pub. L. 108–357, title VIII, §812(f), Oct. 22, 2004, 118 Stat. 1580, as amended by Pub. L. 109–135, title IV, §403(x)(3), Dec. 21, 2005, 119 Stat. 2629, provided that:
"(1) In general.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), the amendments made by this section [enacting section 6662A of this title and amending this section and section 6664 of this title] shall apply to taxable years ending after the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 22, 2004].
"(2) Disqualified opinions.—Section 6664(d)(3)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [now section 6664(d)(4)(B)] (as added by subsection (c)) shall not apply to the opinion of a tax advisor if—
"(A) the opinion was provided to the taxpayer before the date of the enactment of this Act,
"(B) the opinion relates to one or more transactions all of which were entered into before such date, and
"(C) the tax treatment of items relating to each such transaction was included on a return or statement filed by the taxpayer before such date."
Pub. L. 108–357, title VIII, §819(c), Oct. 22, 2004, 118 Stat. 1585, provided that: "The amendments made by this section [amending this section] shall apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 22, 2004]."

Effective Date of 1997 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 105–34 applicable to items with respect to transactions entered into after Aug. 5, 1997, see section 1028(e)(2) of Pub. L. 105–34, set out as a note under section 6111 of this title.

Effective Date of 1994 Amendment
Pub. L. 103–465, title VII, §744(c), Dec. 8, 1994, 108 Stat. 5011, provided that: "The amendments made by this section [amending this section] shall apply to items related to transactions occurring after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 8, 1994]."

Effective Date of 1993 Amendment
Pub. L. 103–66, title XIII, §13236(e), Aug. 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 506, provided that: "The amendments made by this section [amending this section] shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1993."
Pub. L. 103–66, title XIII, §13251(b), Aug. 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 531, provided that: "The amendment made by this section [amending this section] shall apply to returns the due dates for which (determined without regard to extensions) are after December 31, 1993."

Effective Date of 1990 Amendment
Pub. L. 101–508, title XI, §11312(c), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–455, provided that: "The amendments made by this section [amending this section] shall apply to taxable years ending after the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 5, 1990]."

Effective Date
Section 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 an Effective Date of 1989 Amendment note under section 461 of this title.

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
26 U.S.C. § 6662, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/usc/26/6662.