Internal Revenue Code · 26 U.S.C.
§ 6685. Assessable penalty with respect to public inspection requirements for certain tax-exempt organizations
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. § 6685
At a glance
Read from the text, the source credit and the official notes. Not part of the law.
- Status
- In force
- Added
- December 30, 1969 by Pub. L. 91–172
- Last amended
- October 21, 1998 by Pub. L. 105–277
- Amendments
- 4 dated changes in the source credit
- Length
- 134 words · about 1 min to read
- Cross-references
- cites 2; cited by 0 Code sections and 0 other regulations
- Regulations
- 1 issued under this section
In addition to the penalty imposed by section 7207 (relating to fraudulent returns, statements, or other documents), any person who is required to comply with the requirements of subsection (d) of section 6104 and who fails to so comply with respect to any return or application, if such failure is willful, shall pay a penalty of $5,000 with respect to each such return or application.
(Added Pub. L. 91–172, title I, § 101(e)(4), Dec. 30, 1969, 83 Stat. 524; amended Pub. L. 96–603, § 1(d)(4), Dec. 28, 1980, 94 Stat. 3504; Pub. L. 100–203, title X, § 10704(b)(1), Dec. 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 1330–462; Pub. L. 104–168, title XIII, § 1313(b), July 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 1480; Pub. L. 105–277, div. J, title I, § 1004(b)(2)(D), Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–890.)
Regulations under this section
Treasury regulations (26 CFR) issued under § 6685
Cross-references
Computed from the citations in the text of Title 26 and 26 CFR.
This section cites 2 other sections
Amendment history
From the source credit and the official notes, newest first.
- Amended by Pub. L. 105–277
- Amended by Pub. L. 104–168
- Amended by Pub. L. 100–203
- Amended by Pub. L. 96–603
- Added by Pub. L. 91–172
Where it sits in the Code
- Subtitle F Procedure and Administration
- Chapter 68 ADDITIONS TO THE TAX, ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS, AND ASSESSABLE PENALTIES
- Subchapter B Assessable Penalties
- Part I GENERAL PROVISIONS
Nearby sections
- § 6681 Repealed
- § 6682 False information with respect to withholding
- § 6683 Repealed
- § 6684 Assessable penalties with respect to liability for tax under chapter 42
- § 6685 Assessable penalty with respect to public inspection requirements for certain tax-exempt organizations
- § 6686 Failure to file returns or supply information by DISC or former FSC
- § 6687 Repealed
- § 6688 Assessable penalties with respect to information required to be furnished under section 7654
- § 6689 Failure to file notice of redetermination of foreign tax
Official notes
Show the Law Revision Counsel's notes (amendments, effective dates)
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1998—Pub. L. 105–277 struck out “or (e)” after “subsection (d)”.
1996—Pub. L. 104–168 substituted “$5,000” for “$1,000”.
1987—Pub. L. 100–203 substituted current section catchline for “Assessable penalties with respect to private foundation annual returns” and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “In addition to the penalty imposed by section 7207 (relating to fraudulent returns, statements, or other documents), any person who is required to comply with the requirements of section 6104(d) (relating to private foundations’ annual returns) and who fails to so comply with respect to any return, if such failure is willful, shall pay a penalty of $1,000 with respect to each such return.”
1980—Pub. L. 96–603 substituted in section catchline “returns” for “reports”, and in text “required to comply” for “required to file the report and the notice required under section 6056 (relating to annual reports by private foundations) or to comply”, “(relating to private foundations’ annual returns) and who fails to so comply with respect to any return” for “(relating to public inspection of private foundations’ annual reports) and who fails so to file or comply”, and “each such return” for “each such report or notice”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1998 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 105–277 applicable to requests made after the later of Dec. 31, 1998, or the 60th day after the Secretary of the Treasury first issues the regulations referred to in section 6104(d)(4) of this title, see section 1004(b)(3) of Pub. L. 105–277, set out as a note under section 6104 of this title.
Effective Date of 1996 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 104–168 applicable to requests made on or after 60th day after Secretary of the Treasury first issues regulations referred to in section 6104(e)(3) of this title, see section 1313(c) of Pub. L. 104–168, set out as a note under section 6104 of this title.
Effective Date of 1987 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 100–203 applicable to returns for years beginning after Dec. 31, 1986, and on and after Dec. 22, 1987, in case of applications submitted after July 15, 1987, or on or before July 15, 1987, if the organization has a copy of the application on July 15, 1987, see section 10704(d) of Pub. L. 100–203, set out as a note under section 6652 of this title.
Effective Date of 1980 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 96–603 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1980, see section 1(f) of Pub. L. 96–603, set out as a note under section 6033 of this title.
Effective Date
Section effective Jan. 1, 1970, see section 101(k)(1) of Pub. L. 91–172, set out as a note under section 4940 of this title.