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Internal Revenue Code · 26 U.S.C.

§ 5751. Purchase, receipt, possession, or sale of tobacco products and cigarette papers and tubes, after removal

In force Text current through Public Law 119-121 (October 9, 2026) release point 119-121

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. § 5751

At a glance

Read from the text, the source credit and the official notes. Not part of the law.

Status
In force
Enacted
September 2, 1958 by Pub. L. 85–859
Last amended
October 4, 1976 by Pub. L. 94–455
Amendments
1 dated changes in the source credit
Length
2 subsections · 312 words · about 1 min to read
Cross-references
cites 2; cited by 1 Code section and 0 other regulations
(a) Restriction No person shall—
(1) with intent to defraud the United States, purchase, receive, possess, offer for sale, or sell or otherwise dispose of, after removal, any tobacco products or cigarette papers or tubes—
(A) upon which the tax has not been paid or determined in the manner and at the time prescribed by this chapter or regulations thereunder; or
(B) which, after removal without payment of tax pursuant to section 5704, have been diverted from the applicable purpose or use specified in that section; or
(2) with intent to defraud the United States, purchase, receive, possess, offer for sale, or sell or otherwise dispose of, after removal, any tobacco products or cigarette papers or tubes, which are not put up in packages as required under section 5723 or which are put up in packages not bearing the marks, labels, and notices, as required under such section; or
(3) otherwise than with intent to defraud the United States, purchase, receive, possess, offer for sale, or sell or otherwise dispose of, after removal, any tobacco products or cigarette papers or tubes, which are not put up in packages as required under section 5723 or which are put up in packages not bearing the marks, labels, and notices, as required under such section. This paragraph shall not prevent the sale or delivery of tobacco products or cigarette papers or tubes directly to consumers from proper packages, nor apply to such articles when so sold or delivered.
(b) Liability to tax

Any person who possesses tobacco products or cigarette papers or tubes in violation of subsection (a)(1) or (a)(2) shall be liable for a tax equal to the tax on such articles.

(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 716; Pub. L. 85–859, title II, § 202, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1424; Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, § 1905(b)(7)(A), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1823.)

Cross-references

Computed from the citations in the text of Title 26 and 26 CFR.

This section cites 2 other sections

Cited by 1 Code section

Amendment history

From the source credit and the official notes, newest first.

  1. Amended by Pub. L. 94–455Parts changed in 1976: (a)(2)
  2. Enacted by Pub. L. 85–859Parts changed in 1958: (a) (b)

Where it sits in the Code

  1. Subtitle E Alcohol, Tobacco, and Certain Other Excise Taxes
  2. Chapter 52 TOBACCO PRODUCTS AND CIGARETTE PAPERS AND TUBES
  3. Subchapter F General Provisions

Nearby sections

Official notes

Show the Law Revision Counsel's notes (amendments, effective dates)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1976—Subsec. (a)(2), (3). Pub. L. 94–455 substituted “and notices” for “notices, and stamps”.

1958—Pub. L. 85–859 substituted “tobacco products and cigarette papers and tubes, after removal” for “articles, after removal, not exempt from tax” in section catchline.

Subsec. (a) amended generally by Pub. L. 85–859, which included within the restrictions, purchase, receipt, possession, offer for sale, or sale of other disposition of tobacco products or cigarette papers or tubes, after removal, upon which the tax has not been paid or determined, or which after removal without payment of tax have been diverted from the applicable purpose or use specified in section 5704, and to provide that par. (3) shall not prevent the delivery of tobacco products or cigarette papers or tubes directly to consumers from proper packages, nor apply to such articles when so delivered.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 85–859 substituted “tobacco products or cigarette papers or tubes in violation of subsection (a)(1) or (a)(2) shall be liable for a tax equal to the tax on such articles” or “articles in violation of subsection (a) of this section, shall incur liability to the tax thereon in addition to the penalties prescribed elsewhere in this title”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1976 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 94–455 effective on first day of first month which begins more than 90 days after Oct. 4, 1976, see section 1905(d) of Pub. L. 94–455, set out as a note under section 5005 of this title.

Effective Date of 1958 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 85–859 effective Sept. 3, 1958, see section 210(a)(1) of Pub. L. 85–859, set out as an Effective Date note under section 5001 of this title.