Internal Revenue Code · 26 U.S.C.
§ 149. Bonds must be registered to be tax exempt; other requirements
Official text, no changes From the Office of the Law Revision Counsel, release point 119-121 (current through Public Law 119-121 (October 9, 2026)). Compare it with the official text at uscode.house.gov (external site).
Cite as 26 U.S.C. § 149
At a glance
Read from the text, the source credit and the official notes. Not part of the law.
- Status
- In force
- Added
- October 22, 1986 by Pub. L. 99–514
- Last amended
- July 4, 2025 by Pub. L. 119–21
- Amendments
- 9 dated changes in the source credit
- Length
- 7 subsections · 3,516 words · about 15 min to read
- Defines
- 6 terms
- Cross-references
- cites 9; cited by 5 Code sections and 7 other regulations
- Regulations
- 4 issued under this section
Nothing in section 103(a) or in any other provision of law shall be construed to provide an exemption from Federal income tax for interest on any registration-required bond unless such bond is in registered form.
For purposes of paragraph (1), a book entry bond shall be treated as in registered form if the right to the principal of, and stated interest on, such bond may be transferred only through a book entry consistent with regulations prescribed by the Secretary.
The Secretary shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to carry out the purpose of paragraph (1) where there is a nominee or chain of nominees.
Section 103(a) shall not apply to any State or local bond if such bond is federally guaranteed.
Clause (i) shall not apply to any bond which is federally guaranteed within the meaning of paragraph (2)(B)(ii).
Except as provided in paragraph (2)(B)(ii), a bond which is issued as part of an issue shall not be treated as federally guaranteed merely by reason of the fact that the proceeds of such issue are used in making loans to a financial institution or there is a guarantee by a financial institution unless such guarantee constitutes a federally insured deposit or account.
Clause (iv) of subparagraph (A) shall not apply to any guarantee by a Federal home loan bank unless such bank meets safety and soundness collateral requirements for such guarantees which are at least as stringent as such requirements which apply under regulations applicable to such guarantees by Federal home loan banks as in effect on April 9, 2008.
A bond shall not be treated as federally guaranteed merely because of the payment of rent, user fees, or other charges by the United States (or any agency or instrumentality thereof) in exchange for the use of the spaceport by the United States (or any agency or instrumentality thereof).
To the extent provided in regulations prescribed by the Secretary, any entity with statutory authority to borrow from the United States shall be treated as an instrumentality of the United States. Except in the case of an exempt facility bond, a qualified small issue bond, and a qualified student loan bond, nothing in the preceding sentence shall be construed as treating the District of Columbia or any possession of the United States as an instrumentality of the United States.
The term “federally insured deposit or account” means any deposit or account in a financial institution to the extent such deposit or account is insured under Federal law by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation, the National Credit Union Administration, or any similar federally chartered corporation.
Except as provided in paragraph (2), no interest on any bond shall be exempt from taxation under this title unless such interest is exempt from tax under this title without regard to any provision of law which is not contained in this title and which is not contained in a revenue Act.
For purposes of this title, notwithstanding any provision of this part, any bond the interest on which is exempt from taxation under this title by reason of any provision of law (other than a provision of this title) which is in effect on January 6, 1983, shall be treated as a bond described in section 103(a).
Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to a bond (not described in subparagraph (C)) issued after 1983 if the appropriate requirements of this part (or the corresponding provisions of prior law) are not met with respect to such bond.
Nothing in section 103(a) or in any other provision of law shall be construed to provide an exemption from Federal income tax for interest on any bond issued to advance refund another bond.
For purposes of this part, a bond shall be treated as issued to advance refund another bond if it is issued more than 90 days before the redemption of the refunded bond.
The Secretary shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of this subsection.
Nothing in section 103(a) or any other provision of law shall be construed to provide an exemption from Federal income tax for interest on any bond unless such bond satisfies the requirements of paragraph (2).
The Secretary may grant an extension of time for the filing of any statement required under paragraph (2) if the failure to file in a timely fashion is not due to willful neglect.
Section 103(a) shall not apply to any pooled financing bond unless, with respect to the issue of which such bond is a part, the requirements of paragraphs (2), (3), (4), and (5) are met.
Expectations as to changes in interest rates or in the provisions of this title (or in the regulations or rulings thereunder) may not be taken into account in determining whether expectations are reasonable for purposes of this paragraph.
For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term “net proceeds” has the meaning given such term by section 150 but shall not include proceeds used to finance issuance costs and shall not include proceeds necessary to pay interest (during such period) on the bonds which are part of the issue.
For purposes of subparagraph (A), in the case of a refunding bond, the date of issuance taken into account is the date of issuance of the original bond.
The requirement of this paragraph is met with respect to an issue if the issuer receives prior to issuance written loan commitments identifying the ultimate potential borrowers of at least 30 percent of the net proceeds of such issue.
The term “pooled financing bond” means any bond issued as part of an issue more than $5,000,000 of the proceeds of which are reasonably expected (at the time of the issuance of the bonds) to be used (or are intentionally used) directly or indirectly to make or finance loans to 2 or more ultimate borrowers.
If only a portion of the proceeds of an issue is reasonably expected (at the time of issuance of the bond) to be used (or is intentionally used) as described in paragraph (6)(A), such portion and the other portion of such issue shall be treated as separate issues for purposes of determining whether such portion meets the requirements of this subsection.
Amounts in a bona fide debt service fund shall be treated as invested in bonds described in clause (i).
Amounts held for not more than 30 days pending reinvestment or bond redemption shall be treated as invested in bonds described in clause (i).
A refunding bond shall be treated as meeting the requirements of this subsection only if the original bond met such requirements.
The Secretary may, at the request of any issuer, provide that the requirement of paragraph (2) shall be treated as met with respect to the portion of the spendable proceeds of an issue which is to be used for any construction project having a construction period in excess of 5 years if it is reasonably expected that such proceeds will be spent over a reasonable construction schedule specified in such request.
The Secretary may prescribe regulations to prevent the avoidance of the rules of this subsection, including through the aggregation of projects within a single issue.
(Added Pub. L. 99–514, title XIII, § 1301(b), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2646; amended Pub. L. 100–647, title I, § 1013(a)(20)–(22), title V, § 5051(a), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3542, 3676; Pub. L. 101–239, title VII, § 7651(a), Dec. 19, 1989, 103 Stat. 2383; Pub. L. 104–188, title I, § 1704(b)(1), Aug. 20, 1996, 110 Stat. 1878; Pub. L. 109–222, title V, § 508(a), (b), (d)(1), (2), May 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 361, 362; Pub. L. 110–289, div. C, title I, § 3023(a), (b), July 30, 2008, 122 Stat. 2894, 2895; Pub. L. 111–147, title V, § 502(a)(2)(A), Mar. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 107; Pub. L. 115–97, title I, § 13532(a), (b)(1), Dec. 22, 2017, 131 Stat. 2154; Pub. L. 115–141, div. U, title IV, § 401(a)(2)(A), Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1184; Pub. L. 119–21, title VII, § 70309(d), July 4, 2025, 139 Stat. 202.)
Terms defined here
Where the text says “the term … means”. Select a term to jump to its definition.
Regulations under this section
Treasury regulations (26 CFR) issued under § 149
Cross-references
Computed from the citations in the text of Title 26 and 26 CFR.
This section cites 9 other sections
- § 103(a) Interest on State and local bonds
- § 148(d) Arbitrage
- § 1504(a) Definitions
- § 144(a)(6)(A) Qualified small issue bond; qualified student loan bond; qualified redevelopment bond
- § 146 Volume cap
- § 150 Definitions and special rules
- § 141(b)(5) Private activity bond; qualified bond
- § 143 Mortgage revenue bonds: qualified mortgage bond and qualified veterans’ mortgage bond
- § 57(a)(5)(C) Items of tax preference
Cited by 5 Code sections
- § 103(b)(3) Interest on State and local bonds
- § 150(e)(3) Definitions and special rules
- § 163(f)(3) Interest
- § 265(b)(3)(C)(ii)(III) Expenses and interest relating to tax-exempt income
- § 4701(b)(1)(A)(i) Tax on issuer of registration-required obligation not in registered form
Cited in 7 regulations not issued under it
- § 1.103A-2 Qualified mortgage bond.
- § 1.142(f)(4)-1 Manner of making election to terminate tax-exempt bond financing.
- § 1.148-5 Yield and valuation of investments.
- § 1.148-9 Arbitrage rules for refunding issues.
- § 1.148-10 Anti-abuse rules and authority of Commissioner.
- § 1.163-5T Denial of interest deduction on certain obligations issued after December 31, 1982, unless issued in registered form (temporary).
- § 1.1397E-1 Qualified zone academy bonds.
Amendment history
From the source credit and the official notes, newest first.
- Amended by Pub. L. 119–21Parts changed in 2025: (b)(3)(F)
- Amended by Pub. L. 115–141Parts changed in 2018: (b)(3)(A)(i)
- Amended by Pub. L. 115–97Parts changed in 2017: (d)(1) (d)(2)
- Amended by Pub. L. 111–147Parts changed in 2010: (a)(2)
- Amended by Pub. L. 110–289Parts changed in 2008: (b)(3)(A)(iv) (b)(3)(E)
- Amended by Pub. L. 109–222Parts changed in 2006: (f)(1) (f)(2)(A) (f)(4) (f)(7) (f)(7)(B)
- Amended by Pub. L. 104–188Parts changed in 1996: (g)(3)(B)(iii)
- Amended by Pub. L. 101–239Parts changed in 1989: (g)
- Amended by Pub. L. 100–647Parts changed in 1988: (b)(3)(A)(iii) (b)(4)(A) (e)(3) (f)
- Added by Pub. L. 99–514
Where it sits in the Code
- Subtitle A Income Taxes
- Chapter 1 NORMAL TAXES AND SURTAXES
- Subchapter B Computation of Taxable Income
- Part IV TAX EXEMPTION REQUIREMENTS FOR STATE AND LOCAL BONDS
- Subpart B Requirements Applicable to All State and Local Bonds
Nearby sections
- § 148 Arbitrage
- § 149 Bonds must be registered to be tax exempt; other requirements
Official notes
Show the Law Revision Counsel's notes (amendments, effective dates)
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Northwest Power Act, referred to in subsecs. (b)(3)(A)(iii) and (c)(2)(C)(i), probably means the Pacific Northwest Electric Power Planning and Conservation Act, Pub. L. 96–501, Dec. 5, 1980, 94 Stat 2697, which is classified principally to chapter 12H (§ 839 et seq.) of Title 16, Conservation. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 839 of Title 16 and Tables.
The date of the enactment of the Tax Reform Act of 1984, referred to in subsec. (b)(3)(A)(iii), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, which was approved July 18, 1984.
The date of the enactment of this clause, referred to in subsec. (b)(3)(A)(iv), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–289, which was approved July 30, 2008.
Section 11(b) of the United States Housing Act of 1937, referred to in subsecs. (b)(3)(C)(i)(I) and (c)(2)(C)(iii), is classified to section 1473i(b) of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare.
Section 608(a)(6)(A) of Pub. L. 97–468, referred to in subsec. (c)(2)(C)(ii), is classified to section 1207(a)(6)(A) of Title 45, Railroads.
The date of the enactment of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, referred to in subsec. (c)(2)(C)(ii), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 99–514, which was approved Oct. 22, 1986.
Amendments
2025—Subsec. (b)(3)(F). Pub. L. 119–21 added subpar. (F).
2018—Subsec. (b)(3)(A)(i). Pub. L. 115–141 substituted “Department of Veterans Affairs” for “Veterans’ Administration”.
2017—Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 115–97, § 13532(a), substituted “to advance refund another bond.” for “as part of an issue described in paragraph (2), (3), or (4).”
Subsec. (d)(2) to (7). Pub. L. 115–97, § 13532(b)(1), redesignated pars. (5) and (7) as (2) and (3), respectively, and struck out former pars. (2), (3), (4), and (6) which described issuing of certain private activity bonds, other refunding bonds, and bonds involved in abusive transactions and provided special rules for refunding occurring and for bonds issued before 1986.
2010—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 111–147 inserted “or” at end of subpar. (A), substituted period for “, or” in subpar. (B), and struck out subpar. (C) which read as follows: “is described in section 163(f)(2)(B).”
2008—Subsec. (b)(3)(A)(iv). Pub. L. 110–289, § 3023(a), added cl. (iv).
Subsec. (b)(3)(E). Pub. L. 110–289, § 3023(b), added subpar. (E).
2006—Subsec. (f)(1). Pub. L. 109–222, § 508(d)(1), substituted “paragraphs (2), (3), (4), and (5)” for “paragraphs (2) and (3)”.
Subsec. (f)(2)(A). Pub. L. 109–222, § 508(a), amended subpar. (A) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The requirements of this paragraph are met with respect to an issue if the issuer reasonably expects that as of the close of the 3-year period beginning on the date of issuance of the issue, at least 95 percent of the net proceeds of the issue (as of the close of such period) will have been used directly or indirectly to make or finance loans to ultimate borrowers.”
Subsec. (f)(4) to (6). Pub. L. 109–222, § 508(b), added pars. (4) and (5) and redesignated former par. (4) as (6). Former par. (5) redesignated (7).
Subsec. (f)(7). Pub. L. 109–222, § 508(b), redesignated par. (5) as (7).
Subsec. (f)(7)(B). Pub. L. 109–222, § 508(d)(2), substituted “paragraph (6)(A)” for “paragraph (4)(A)”.
1996—Subsec. (g)(3)(B)(iii). Pub. L. 104–188 amended cl. (iii) generally. Prior to amendment, cl. (iii) read as follows: “Investment earnings held pending reinvestment.—Investment earnings held for not more than 30 days pending reinvestment shall be treated as invested in bonds described in clause (i).”
1989—Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 101–239 added subsec. (g).
1988—Subsec. (b)(3)(A)(iii). Pub. L. 100–647, § 1013(a)(20), struck out “with respect to any bond issued before July 1, 1989” after “1984”.
Subsec. (b)(4)(A). Pub. L. 100–647, § 1013(a)(21), substituted “and a qualified student loan bond” for “a qualified student loan bond, and a qualified redevelopment bond”.
Subsec. (e)(3). Pub. L. 100–647, § 1013(a)(22), substituted “the failure to file in a timely fashion is not due to willful neglect” for “there is reasonable cause for the failure to file such statement in a timely fashion”.
Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 100–647, § 5051(a), added subsec. (f).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2025 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 119–21 applicable to obligations issued after July 4, 2025, see section 70309(f) of Pub. L. 119–21, set out as a note under section 142 of this title.
Effective Date of 2017 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 115–97 applicable to advance refunding bonds issued after Dec. 31, 2017, see section 13532(c) of Pub. L. 115–97, set out as a note under section 148 of this title.
Effective Date of 2010 Amendment
Pub. L. 111–147, title V, § 502(f), Mar. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 108, provided that: “The amendments made by this section [amending this section, sections 163, 165, 871, 881, 1287, and 4701 of this title, and section 3121 of Title 31, Money and Finance] shall apply to obligations issued after the date which is 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act [Mar. 18, 2010].”
Effective Date of 2008 Amendment
Pub. L. 110–289, div. C, title I, § 3023(c), July 30, 2008, 122 Stat. 2895, provided that: “The amendments made by this section [amending this section] shall apply to guarantees made after the date of the enactment of this Act [July 30, 2008].”
Effective Date of 2006 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 109–222 applicable to bonds issued after May 17, 2006, see section 508(e) of Pub. L. 109–222, set out as a note under section 148 of this title.
Effective Date of 1996 Amendment
Pub. L. 104–188, title I, § 1704(b)(2), Aug. 20, 1996, 110 Stat. 1878, provided that: “The amendment made by paragraph (1) [amending this section] shall take effect as if included in the amendments made by section 7651 of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1989 [Pub. L. 101–239].”
Effective Date of 1989 Amendment
Pub. L. 101–239, title VII, § 7651(b), Dec. 19, 1989, 103 Stat. 2385, provided that:
“(1) In general.— Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply to bonds issued after September 14, 1989.“(2) Bonds sold before september 15, 1989.— The amendment made by subsection (a) shall not apply to any bond sold before September 15, 1989, and issued before October 15, 1989.“(3) Bonds with respect to which preliminary offering materials mailed.— The amendment made by subsection (a) shall not apply to any issue issued after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 19, 1989] if the preliminary offering materials with respect to such issue were mailed (or otherwise delivered) to members of the underwriting syndicate before September 15, 1989.“(4) Certain other bonds.— In the case of a bond issued before January 1, 1991, with respect to which official action was taken (or a series of official actions were taken), or other comparable preliminary approval was given, before November 18, 1989, demonstrating an intent to issue such bonds in a maximum specified amount for such issue or with a maximum specified amount of net proceeds of such issue, the issuer may elect to apply section 149(g)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as added by this section) by substituting ‘15 percent’ for ‘10 percent’ in subparagraph (A) and ‘50 percent’ for ‘60 percent’ in subparagraph (C).“(5) Bonds issued to finance self-insurance funds.— The amendment made by subsection (a) shall not apply to any bonds issued before July 1, 1990, to finance a self-insurance fund if official action was taken (or a series of official actions were taken), or other comparable preliminary approval was given, before September 15, 1989, demonstrating an intent to issue such bonds in a maximum specified amount for such issue or with a maximum specified amount of net proceeds of such issue.”
Effective Date of 1988 Amendment
Amendment by section 1013(a)(20)–(22) of Pub. L. 100–647 effective, except as otherwise provided, as if included in the provision of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, Pub. L. 99–514, to which such amendment relates, see section 1019(a) of Pub. L. 100–647, set out as a note under section 1 of this title.
Pub. L. 100–647, title V, § 5051(b), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3677, provided that:
“(1) In general.— The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply to bonds issued after October 21, 1988.“(2) Special rule for refunding bonds.— In the case of a bond issued to refund a bond issued before October 22, 1988—“(A) if the 3-year period described in section 149(f)(2)(A) of the 1986 Code would (but for this paragraph) expire on or before October 22, 1989, such period shall expire on October 21, 1990, and“(B) if such period expires after October 22, 1989, the portion of the proceeds of the issue of which the refunded bond is a part which is available (on the date of issuance of the refunding issue) to provide loans shall be treated as proceeds of a separate issue (issued after October 21, 1988) for purposes of applying section 149(f) of the 1986 Code.”
Effective Date
Subsec. (e) applicable to bonds issued after Dec. 31, 1986, see section 1311(d) of Pub. L. 99–514, as amended, set out as an Effective Date; Transitional Rules note under section 141 of this title.
Transfer of Functions
Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation abolished and its functions transferred, see sections 401 to 406 of Pub. L. 101–73 set out as a note under section 1437 of Title 12, Banks and Banking.