CITE
26 USC Sec. 7213 01/05/2009
EXPCITE
TITLE 26 - INTERNAL REVENUE CODE
Subtitle F - Procedure and Administration
CHAPTER 75 - CRIMES, OTHER OFFENSES, AND FORFEITURES
Subchapter A - Crimes
PART I - GENERAL PROVISIONS
HEAD
Sec. 7213. Unauthorized disclosure of information
STATUTE
(a) Returns and return information
(1) Federal employees and other persons
It shall be unlawful for any officer or employee of the United
States or any person described in section 6103(n) (or an officer
or employee of any such person), or any former officer or
employee, willfully to disclose to any person, except as
authorized in this title, any return or return information (as
defined in section 6103(b)). Any violation of this paragraph
shall be a felony punishable upon conviction by a fine in any
amount not exceeding $5,000, or imprisonment of not more than 5
years, or both, together with the costs of prosecution, and if
such offense is committed by any officer or employee of the
United States, he shall, in addition to any other punishment, be
dismissed from office or discharged from employment upon
conviction for such offense.
(2) State and other employees
It shall be unlawful for any person (not described in paragraph
(1)) willfully to disclose to any person, except as authorized in
this title, any return or return information (as defined in
section 6103(b)) acquired by him or another person under
subsection (d), (i)(3)(B)(i) or (7)(A)(ii), (l)(6), (7), (8),
(9), (10), (12), (15), (16), (19), or (20) or (m)(2), (4), (5),
(6), or (7) of section 6103 or under section 6104(c). Any
violation of this paragraph shall be a felony punishable by a
fine in any amount not exceeding $5,000, or imprisonment of not
more than 5 years, or both, together with the costs of
prosecution.
(3) Other persons
It shall be unlawful for any person to whom any return or
return information (as defined in section 6103(b)) is disclosed
in a manner unauthorized by this title thereafter willfully to
print or publish in any manner not provided by law any such
return or return information. Any violation of this paragraph
shall be a felony punishable by a fine in any amount not
exceeding $5,000, or imprisonment of not more than 5 years, or
both, together with the costs of prosecution.
(4) Solicitation
It shall be unlawful for any person willfully to offer any item
of material value in exchange for any return or return
information (as defined in section 6103(b)) and to receive as a
result of such solicitation any such return or return
information. Any violation of this paragraph shall be a felony
punishable by a fine in any amount not exceeding $5,000, or
imprisonment of not more than 5 years, or both, together with the
costs of prosecution.
(5) Shareholders
It shall be unlawful for any person to whom a return or return
information (as defined in section 6103(b)) is disclosed pursuant
to the provisions of section 6103(e)(1)(D)(iii) willfully to
disclose such return or return information in any manner not
provided by law. Any violation of this paragraph shall be a
felony punishable by a fine in any amount not to exceed $5,000,
or imprisonment of not more than 5 years, or both, together with
the costs of prosecution.
(b) Disclosure of operations of manufacturer or producer
Any officer or employee of the United States who divulges or
makes known in any manner whatever not provided by law to any
person the operations, style of work, or apparatus of any
manufacturer or producer visited by him in the discharge of his
official duties shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon
conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $1,000, or
imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both, together with the costs
of prosecution; and the offender shall be dismissed from office or
discharged from employment.
(c) Disclosures by certain delegates of Secretary
All provisions of law relating to the disclosure of information,
and all provisions of law relating to penalties for unauthorized
disclosure of information, which are applicable in respect of any
function under this title when performed by an officer or employee
of the Treasury Department are likewise applicable in respect of
such function when performed by any person who is a "delegate"
within the meaning of section 7701(a)(12)(B).
(d) Disclosure of software
Any person who willfully divulges or makes known software (as
defined in section 7612(d)(1)) to any person in violation of
section 7612 shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction
thereof, shall be fined not more than $5,000, or imprisoned not
more than 5 years, or both, together with the costs of prosecution.
(e) Cross references
(1) Penalties for disclosure of information by preparers of
returns
For penalty for disclosure or use of information by preparers
of returns, see section 7216.
(2) Penalties for disclosure of confidential information
For penalties for disclosure of confidential information by
any officer or employee of the United States or any department
or agency thereof, see 18 U.S.C. 1905.
SOURCE
(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 855; Pub. L. 85-866, title I,
Sec. 90(c), Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1666; Pub. L. 86-778, title I,
Sec. 103(s), Sept. 13, 1960, 74 Stat. 940; Pub. L. 94-455, title
XII, Sec. 1202(d), (h)(3), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1686, 1688; Pub.
L. 95-600, title VII, Sec. 701(bb)(1)(C), (6), Nov. 6, 1978, 92
Stat. 2922, 2923; Pub. L. 96-249, title I, Sec. 127(a)(2)(D), May
26, 1980, 94 Stat. 366; Pub. L. 96-265, title IV, Sec.
408(a)(2)(D), June 9, 1980, 94 Stat. 468, as amended Pub. L. 96-
611, Sec. 11(a)(2)(B)(iv), Dec. 28, 1980, 94 Stat. 3574; Pub. L.
96-499, title III, Sec. 302(b), Dec. 5, 1980, 94 Stat. 2604; Pub.
L. 96-611, Sec. 11(a)(4)(A), Dec. 28, 1980, 94 Stat. 3574; Pub. L.
97-248, title III, Sec. 356(b)(2), Sept. 3, 1982, 96 Stat. 645;
Pub. L. 97-365, Sec. 8(c)(2), Oct. 25, 1982, 96 Stat. 1754; Pub. L.
98-369, div. A, title IV, Sec. 453(b)(4), div. B, title VI, Sec.
2653(b)(4), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 820, 1156; Pub. L. 98-378, Sec.
21(f)(5), Aug. 16, 1984, 98 Stat. 1326; Pub. L. 100-485, title VII,
Sec. 701(b)(2)(C), Oct. 13, 1988, 102 Stat. 2426; Pub. L. 100-647,
title VIII, Sec. 8008(c)(2)(B), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3787; Pub.
L. 101-239, title VI, Sec. 6202(a)(1)(C), Dec. 19, 1989, 103 Stat.
2228; Pub. L. 101-508, title V, Sec. 5111(b)(3), Nov. 5, 1990, 104
Stat. 1388-273; Pub. L. 104-168, title XII, Sec. 1206(b)(5), July
30, 1996, 110 Stat. 1473; Pub. L. 105-33, title XI, Sec.
11024(b)(8), Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 722; Pub. L. 105-35, Sec.
2(b)(1), Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 1104; Pub. L. 105-206, title III,
Sec. 3413(b), July 22, 1998, 112 Stat. 754; Pub. L. 107-134, title
II, Sec. 201(c)(10), Jan. 23, 2002, 115 Stat. 2444; Pub. L. 108-
173, title I, Sec. 105(e)(4), title VIII, Sec. 811(c)(2)(C), Dec.
8, 2003, 117 Stat. 2167, 2369; Pub. L. 109-280, title XII, Sec.
1224(b)(5), Aug. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 1093.)
AMENDMENTS
2006 - Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 109-280, which directed insertion
of "or under section 6104(c)" after "6103" in subsec. (a)(2) of
section 7213, without specifying the act to be amended, was
executed by making the insertion in subsec. (a)(2) of this section,
which is section 7213 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, to
reflect the probable intent of Congress.
2003 - Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 108-173, Sec. 811(c)(2)(C),
substituted "(19), or (20)" for "or (19)".
Pub. L. 108-173, Sec. 105(e)(4), substituted "(16), or (19)" for
"or (16)".
2002 - Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 107-134 substituted "(i)(3)(B)(i)
or (7)(A)(ii)," for "(i)(3)(B)(i),".
1998 - Subsecs. (d), (e). Pub. L. 105-206 added subsec. (d) and
redesignated former subsec. (d) as (e).
1997 - Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 105-35 inserted "(5)," after
"(m)(2), (4),".
Pub. L. 105-33 substituted "(15), or (16)" for "or (15),".
1996 - Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 104-168 substituted "(12), or
(15)" for "or (12)".
1990 - Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 101-508 substituted "(6), or (7)"
for "or (6)".
1989 - Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 101-239 substituted "(10), or
(12)" for "or (10)".
1988 - Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 100-647 substituted "(m)(2), (4),
or (6)" for "(m)(2) or (4)".
Pub. L. 100-485 substituted "(9), or (10)" for "(9), (10), or
(11)".
1984 - Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 98-378 substituted "(10), or (11)"
for "or (10)".
Pub. L. 98-369, Sec. 2653(b)(4), substituted "(9), or (10)" for
"or (9)".
Pub. L. 98-369, Sec. 453(b)(4), substituted "(7), (8), or (9)"
for "(7), or (8)".
1982 - Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 97-365 substituted "(m)(2) or (4)"
for "(m)(4)".
Pub. L. 97-248 inserted "(i)(3)(B)(i)," after "under subsection
(d),".
1980 - Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 96-611, Sec. 11(a)(4)(A),
substituted "(l)(6), (7), or (8)" for "(l)(6) or (7)".
Pub. L. 96-499 substituted "person (not described in paragraph
(1))" for "officer, employee, or agent, or former officer,
employee, or agent, of any State (as defined in section
6103(b)(5)), any local child support enforcement agency, any
educational institution, or any State food stamp agency (as defined
in section 6103(l)(7)(C)" and "(m)(4) of section 6103" for
"(m)(4)(B) of section 6103".
Pub. L. 96-265, Sec. 408(a)(2)(D), as amended by Pub. L. 96-611,
Sec. 11(a)(2)(B)(iv), substituted "subsection (d), (l)(6), (7), or
(8), or (m)(4)(B)" for "subsection (d), (l)(6) or (7), or
(m)(4)(B)".
Pub. L. 96-249 substituted "any educational institution, or any
State food stamp agency (as defined in section 6103(l)(7)(C))" for
"or any educational institution" and "subsection (d), (l)(6) or
(7), or (m)(4)(B)" for "subsection (d), (l)(6), or (m)(4)(B)".
1978 - Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 95-600, Sec. 701(bb)(6)(A),
inserted "willfully" before "to disclose".
Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 95-600, Sec. 701(bb)(1)(C), (6)(A),
inserted provision relating to educational institutions, inserted
"willfully" before "to disclose", and substituted "subsection (d),
(l)(6), or (m)(4)(B) of section 6103" for "section 6103(d) or
(l)(6)".
Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 95-600, Sec. 701(bb)(6)(B), substituted
"thereafter willfully to" for "to thereafter".
Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 95-600, Sec. 701(bb)(6)(C), inserted
"willfully" before "to offer".
Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 95-600, Sec. 701(bb)(6)(A), inserted
"willfully" before "to disclose".
1976 - Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 94-455, Sec. 1202(d), added pars. (3)
and (4), redesignated former par. (3) as (5), and in pars. (1),
(2), and (5) raised from a misdemeanor to a felony any criminal
violation of the disclosure rules, increased from $1,000 to $5,000
and from one year imprisonment to five years imprisonment the
maximum criminal penalties for an unauthorized disclosure of a
return or return information, extended the criminal penalties to
apply to unauthorized disclosures of any return or return
information and not merely income returns and other financial
information appearing on income returns, and extended the criminal
penalties to apply to former Federal and State officers and to
officers and employees of contractors having access to returns and
return information in connection with the processing, storage,
transmission, and reproduction of such returns and return
information, and the programming, maintenance, etc., of equipment.
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 94-455, Sec. 1202(d), redesignated subsec.
(d) as (c). Former subsec. (c), covering offenses relating to the
reproduction of documents, was struck out.
Subsecs. (d), (e). Pub. L. 94-455, Sec. 1202(d), (h)(3),
redesignated subsec. (e) as (d) and, in par. (1) of subsec. (d) as
so redesignated, substituted a cross reference to section 7216 as
covering penalties for disclosure or use of information by
preparers of returns for a cross reference to section 6106 as
covering special provisions applicable to returns of tax under
chapter 23 (relating to Federal Unemployment Tax). Former subsec.
(d) redesignated (c).
1960 - Subsecs. (d), (e). Pub. L. 86-778 added subsec. (d) and
redesignated former subsec. (d) as (e).
1958 - Subsecs. (c), (d). Pub. L. 85-866 added subsec. (c) and
redesignated former subsec. (c) as (d).
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2006 AMENDMENT
Amendment by Pub. L. 109-280 effective Aug. 17, 2006, but not
applicable to requests made before such date, see section 1224(c)
of Pub. L. 109-280, set out as a note under section 6103 of this
title.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2002 AMENDMENT
Amendment by Pub. L. 107-134 applicable to disclosures made on or
after Jan. 23, 2002, see section 201(d) of Pub. L. 107-134, set out
as a note under section 6103 of this title.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1998 AMENDMENT
Amendment by Pub. L. 105-206 applicable to summonses issued, and
software acquired, after July 22, 1998, see section 3413(e)(1) of
Pub. L. 105-206, set out as an Effective Date note under section
7612 of this title.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1997 AMENDMENTS
Section 2(c) of Pub. L. 105-35 provided that: "The amendments
made by this section [enacting section 7213A of this title and
amending this section] shall apply to violations occurring on and
after the date of the enactment of this Act [Aug. 5, 1997]."
Amendment by Pub. L. 105-33 effective Oct. 1, 1997, except as
otherwise provided in title XI of Pub. L. 105-33, see section 11721
of Pub. L. 105-33, set out as a note under section 4246 of Title
18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1984 AMENDMENTS
Amendment by Pub. L. 98-378 applicable with respect to refunds
payable under section 6402 of this title after Dec. 31, 1985, see
section 21(g) of Pub. L. 98-378, set out as a note under section
6103 of this title.
Amendment by section 453(b)(4) of Pub. L. 98-369 effective on the
first day of the first calendar month which begins more than 90
days after July 18, 1984, see section 456(a) of Pub. L. 98-369, set
out as an Effective Date note under section 5101 of this title.
Amendment by section 2653(b)(4) of Pub. L. 98-369 applicable to
refunds payable under section 6402 of this title after Dec. 31,
1985, see section 2653(c) of Pub. L. 98-369, as amended, set out as
a note under section 6402 of this title.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1982 AMENDMENTS
Amendment by Pub. L. 97-365 effective Oct. 25, 1982, see section
8(d) of Pub. L. 97-365, set out as a note under section 6103 of
this title.
Amendment by Pub. L. 97-248 effective on the day after Sept. 3,
1982, see section 356(c) of Pub. L. 97-248, set out as a note under
section 6103 of this title.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1980 AMENDMENTS
Section 11(a)(4)(B) of Pub. L. 96-611 provided that: "The
amendment made by subparagraph (A) [amending this section] shall
take effect on December 5, 1980."
Amendment by Pub. L. 96-499 effective Dec. 5, 1980, see section
302(c) of Pub. L. 96-499, set out as a note under section 6103 of
this title.
Amendment by Pub. L. 96-265, as amended by section
11(a)(2)(B)(iv) of Pub. L. 96-611, effective June 9, 1980, see
section 11(a)(3) of Pub. L. 96-611 and section 408(a)(3) of Pub. L.
96-265, set out as notes under section 6103 of this title.
Amendment by Pub. L. 96-249 effective May 26, 1980, see section
127(a)(3) of Pub. L. 96-249, set out as a note under section 6103
of this title.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1978 AMENDMENT
Amendment by Pub. L. 95-600 effective Jan. 1, 1977, see section
701(bb)(8) of Pub. L. 95-600, set out as a note under section 6103
of this title.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1976 AMENDMENT
Amendment by Pub. L. 94-455 effective Jan. 1, 1977, see section
1202(i) of Pub. L. 94-455, set out as a note under section 6103 of
this title.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1960 AMENDMENT
Amendment by Pub. L. 86-778 effective Sept. 13, 1960, see section
103(v)(1) of Pub. L. 86-778, set out as a note under section 402 of
Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1958 AMENDMENT
Amendment by Pub. L. 85-866 effective Aug. 17, 1954, see section
1(c)(2) of Pub. L. 85-866, set out as a note under section 165 of
this title.
CLARIFICATION OF CONGRESSIONAL INTENT AS TO SCOPE OF AMENDMENTS BY
SECTION 2653 OF PUB. L. 98-369
For provisions that nothing in amendments by section 2653 of Pub.
L. 98-369 be construed as exempting debts of corporations or any
other category of persons from application of such amendments, with
such amendments to extend to all Federal agencies (as defined in
such amendments), see section 9402(b) of Pub. L. 98-369, set out as
a note under section 6402 of this title.