Burden of proof

26 U.S.C. § 7491

• Title: 26 — Internal Revenue Code
• Chapter: Subchapter E—Burden of Proof

Text

(a) Burden shifts where taxpayer produces credible evidence
If, in any court proceeding, a taxpayer introduces credible evidence with respect to any factual issue relevant to ascertaining the liability of the taxpayer for any tax imposed by subtitle A or B, the Secretary shall have the burden of proof with respect to such issue.
Paragraph (1) shall apply with respect to an issue only if—
(A) the taxpayer has complied with the requirements under this title to substantiate any item;
(B) the taxpayer has maintained all records required under this title and has cooperated with reasonable requests by the Secretary for witnesses, information, documents, meetings, and interviews; and
(C) in the case of a partnership, corporation, or trust, the taxpayer is described in section 7430(c)(4)(A)(ii).
Subparagraph (C) shall not apply to any qualified revocable trust (as defined in section 645(b)(1)) with respect to liability for tax for any taxable year ending after the date of the decedent's death and before the applicable date (as defined in section 645(b)(2)).
Paragraph (1) shall not apply to any issue if any other provision of this title provides for a specific burden of proof with respect to such issue.
(b) Use of statistical information on unrelated taxpayers
In the case of an individual taxpayer, the Secretary shall have the burden of proof in any court proceeding with respect to any item of income which was reconstructed by the Secretary solely through the use of statistical information on unrelated taxpayers.
(c) Penalties
Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, the Secretary shall have the burden of production in any court proceeding with respect to the liability of any individual for any penalty, addition to tax, or additional amount imposed by this title.

History

(Added Pub. L. 105–206, title III, §3001(a), July 22, 1998, 112 Stat. 726; amended Pub. L. 105–277, div. J, title IV, §4002(b), Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–906.)

Editorial Notes

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions
A prior section 7491, act Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 893, placed the burden of proof in establishing the applicability of an exemption upon the defendant in the case of marihuana offenses, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 91–513, title III, §§1101(b)(5)(A), 1103, 1105(a), Oct. 27, 1970, 84 Stat. 1292, 1294, 1295, effective on first day of seventh calendar month that begins after Oct. 26, 1970, with prosecutions commenced prior to such date not to be affected or abated by reason thereof.
A prior section 7492, act Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 893, related to the enforceability of cotton futures contracts, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, §1952(n)(4)(A), (o), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1846, effective on the 90th day after Oct. 4, 1976.
A prior section 7493, act Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 893, provided that no person whose evidence is deemed material by the officer prosecuting on behalf of the United States in any case brought under any provision of subchapter D of chapter 39 of this title withhold his testimony because of complicity by him in any violation of subchapter D of chapter 39 of this title or of any regulation made pursuant to such chapter, but that such person called by such officer who testifies in the case be exempt from prosecution for any offense to which his testimony relates, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 91–452, title II, §§232, 260, Oct. 15, 1970, 84 Stat. 930, 931, effective on 60th day following Oct. 15, 1970, and not to affect any immunity to which any individual was entitled under by reason of any testimony given before 60th day following Oct. 15, 1970. See section 6001 et seq. of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure.

Amendments
1998—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 105–277 inserted concluding provisions.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1998 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 105–277 effective as if included in the provision of the Internal Revenue Service Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998, Pub. L. 105–206, to which such amendment relates, see section 4002(k) of Pub. L. 105–277, set out as a note under section 1 of this title.

Effective Date
Pub. L. 105–206, title III, §3001(c), July 22, 1998, 112 Stat. 727, provided that:
"(1) In general.—The amendments made by this section [enacting this subchapter] shall apply to court proceedings arising in connection with examinations commencing after the date of the enactment of this Act [July 22, 1998].
"(2) Taxable periods or events after date of enactment.—In any case in which there is no examination, such amendments shall apply to court proceedings arising in connection with taxable periods or events beginning or occurring after such date of enactment."

Editorial Notes

Amendments
2021—Pub. L. 117–58, div. H, title V, §80504(b)(2), Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 1337, substituted "Federally declared disaster, significant fire," for "Presidentially declared disaster" in item 7508A.
Pub. L. 117–2, title IX, §§9611(b)(4)(D), 9625(b), Mar. 11, 2021, 135 Stat. 150, 157, added items 7527A and 7530.
2019—Pub. L. 116–25, title I, §1401(b), title II, §2007(c), July 1, 2019, 133 Stat. 997, 1006, added items 7526A and 7529.
2003—Pub. L. 108–121, title I, §104(b)(3), Nov. 11, 2003, 117 Stat. 1338, inserted "or contingency operation" after "combat zone" in item 7508.
Pub. L. 108–89, title II, §202(b)(1), Oct. 1, 2003, 117 Stat. 1133, added item 7528.
2002—Pub. L. 107–210, div. A, title II, §202(d)(1), Aug. 6, 2002, 116 Stat. 963, added item 7527.
Pub. L. 107–134, title I, §112(e)(1), Jan. 23, 2002, 115 Stat. 2435, substituted "Authority to postpone certain deadlines by reason of Presidentially declared disaster or terroristic or military actions" for "Authority to postpone certain tax-related deadlines by reason of presidentially declared disaster" in item 7508A.
1998—Pub. L. 105–206, title III, §§3411(b), 3601(b), July 22, 1998, 112 Stat. 751, 776, added items 7525 and 7526.
1997—Pub. L. 105–34, title IX, §911(b), Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 878, added item 7508A.
1996—Pub. L. 104–168, title XII, §1204(b), July 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 1471, added item 7524.
1990—Pub. L. 101–508, title XI, §§11622(b), 11704(a)(31), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–505, 1388–519, substituted "7522. Content of tax due, deficiency, and other notices." for "7521. Content of tax due, deficiency, and other notices." and added item 7523.
1989—Pub. L. 101–239, title VII, §7816(u)(2), Dec. 19, 1989, 103 Stat. 2423, redesignated item 7520, relating to procedures involving taxpayer interviews, as 7521.
1988—Pub. L. 100–647, title VI, §6233(b), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3735, added item 7521.
Pub. L. 100–647, title VI, §6228(c), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3732, added item 7520 relating to procedures involving taxpayer interviews.
Pub. L. 100–647, title V, §5031(b), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3669, added item 7520 relating to valuation tables.
1987—Pub. L. 100–203, title X, §10206(b)(2), Dec. 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 1330–401, added item 7519.
1986—Pub. L. 99–514, title II, §261(f), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2216, added item 7518.
1976—Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, §1906(b)(11), (12), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1834, substituted "Time for performing certain acts postponed by reason of service in combat zone" for "Time for performing certain acts postponed by reason of war" in item 7508, and "Expenditures incurred by the United States Postal Service" for "Expenditures incurred by the Post Office Department" in item 7509.
Pub. L. 94–455, title XX, §2008(a)(2)(C), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1891, added item 7517 relating to statement explaining estate or gift valuation.
1966—Pub. L. 89–719, title I, §111(c)(2), Nov. 2, 1966, 80 Stat. 1145, substituted "acquired" for "purchased" in item 7505.
Pub. L. 89–713, §5(b), Nov. 2, 1966, 80 Stat. 1111, inserted "and paying" in item 7502.
1962—Pub. L. 87–870, §3(a)(2), Oct. 23, 1962, 76 Stat. 1161, added items 7515 and 7516.
Pub. L. 87–456, title III, §302(d), May 24, 1962, 76 Stat. 77, struck out item 7511 "Exemption of consular officers and employees of foreign states from payment of internal revenue taxes on imported articles".
1958—Pub. L. 85–866, title I, §§90(b), 91(b), Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1666, 1667, added items 7513 and 7514.
Pub. L. 85–321, §3(a), Feb. 11, 1958, 72 Stat. 6, added item 7512.