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Treasury Regulations · 26 CFR

§ 31.3121(b)-4. Employment; excepted services in general.

In effect eCFR current as of October 15, 2026

Regulation text, no changes From the eCFR, current as of October 15, 2026. The eCFR is an authoritative but unofficial editorial compilation of the Code of Federal Regulations; the official text is the annual CFR on govinfo. Compare it with this section on ecfr.gov (external site) or the official annual CFR on govinfo (external site).

Regulation under 26 U.S.C. § 3121(b)

Cite as 26 CFR § 31.3121(b)-4

At a glance

Read from the text and its source citation. Not part of the regulation.

Status
In the current eCFR
Issued
December 20, 1960 by T.D. 6516
Last amended
July 2, 1964 by T.D. 6744
Length
309 words · about 1 min to read
(a) Services performed by an employee for an employer do not constitute employment for purposes of the taxes if they are specifically excepted from employment under any of the numbered paragraphs of section 3121(b). Services so excepted do not constitute employment for purposes of the taxes even though they are performed within the United States, or are performed outside the United States on or in connection with an American vessel or American aircraft, or are performed outside the United States by a citizen of the United States for an American employer. If not otherwise provided in the regulations relating to the numbered paragraphs of section 3121(b), such regulations apply to services performed after 1954.
(b) The exception attaches to the services performed by the employee and not to the employee as an individual; that is, the exception applies only to the services in an excepted class rendered by the employee.
Example.

A is an individual who is employed part time by B to perform services which are specifically excepted from employment under one of the numbered paragraphs of section 312(b). A is also employed by C part time to perform services which constitute employment. While no tax liability is incurred with respect to A's remuneration for services performed in the employ of B (the services being excepted from employment), the exception does not embrace the services performed by A in the employ of C (which constitute employment) and the taxes attached with respect to the wages (see § 31.3121(a)-1) for such services.

(c) For provisions relating to the circumstances under which services which are excepted are nevertheless deemed to be employment, and relating to the circumstances under which services which are not excepted are nevertheless deemed not to be employment, see § 31.3121(c)-1.

[T.D. 6516, 25 FR 13032, Dec. 20, 1960, as amended by T.D. 6744, 29 FR 8310, July 2, 1964]

Cross-references

Computed from the citations in the text of 26 CFR.

Code sections it cites

Regulations it cites

Amendment history

From the source citation at the end of the section, newest first. T.D. is a Treasury decision; FR is the Federal Register.

  1. Amended by T.D. 6744 (29 FR 8310)
  2. Issued by T.D. 6516 (25 FR 13032)

Where it sits in 26 CFR

  1. Subchapter C Employment taxes and collection of income tax at source
  2. Part 31 Employment taxes and collection of income tax at source
  3. Subpart B Federal Insurance Contributions Act (Chapter 21, Internal Revenue Code of 1954)
  4. General Provisions

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