Internal Revenue Code · 26 U.S.C.
§ 7447. Retirement
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. § 7447
At a glance
Read from the text, the source credit and the official notes. Not part of the law.
- Status
- In force
- Enacted
- February 2, 1966 by Pub. L. 89–354
- Last amended
- December 29, 2022 by Pub. L. 117–328
- Amendments
- 9 dated changes in the source credit
- Length
- 11 subsections · 2,899 words · about 13 min to read
- Defines
- 2 terms
- Cross-references
- cites 2; cited by 2 Code sections and 0 other regulations
The judge has attained age: | And the years of service as a judge are at least: |
|---|---|
65 | 15 |
66 | 14 |
67 | 13 |
68 | 12 |
69 | 11 |
70 | 10. |
If such individual during any calendar year fails to perform judicial duties required of him by subsection (c), such individual shall forfeit all rights to retired pay under subsection (d) for the 1-year period which begins on the 1st day on which he so fails to perform such duties.
If such individual performs (or supervises or directs the performance of) legal or accounting services in the field of Federal taxation for his client, his employer, or any of his employer’s clients, such individual shall forfeit all rights to retired pay under subsection (d) for all periods beginning on or after the 1st day on which he engages in any such activity. The preceding sentence shall not apply to any civil office or employment under the Government of the United States.
If such individual accepts compensation for civil office or employment under the Government of the United States (other than the performance of judicial duties pursuant to subsection (c)), such individual shall forfeit all rights to retired pay under subsection (d) for the period for which such compensation is received.
Any election under this paragraph shall take effect on the 1st day of the 1st month following the month in which the election is made.
Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the provisions of the civil service retirement laws (including the provisions relating to the deduction and withholding of amounts from basic pay, salary, and compensation) shall apply in respect of service as a judge (together with other service as an officer or employee to whom such civil service retirement laws apply) as if this section had not been enacted.
Notwithstanding subsection (e)(2), an individual who has filed an election to receive retired pay under subsection (d) may revoke such election at any time before the first day on which retired pay (or compensation under subsection (c) in lieu of retired pay) would (but for such revocation) begin to accrue with respect to such individual.
Any revocation under this subsection shall be made by filing a notice thereof in writing with the Office of Personnel Management. The Office of Personnel Management shall transmit to the chief judge a copy of each notice filed under this subsection.
A judge of the Tax Court may elect to contribute to the Thrift Savings Fund established by section 8437 of title 5, United States Code.
An election may be made under this paragraph only during a period provided under section 8432(b) of title 5, United States Code, for individuals subject to chapter 84 of such title.
Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the provisions of subchapters III and VII of chapter 84 of title 5, United States Code, shall apply with respect to a judge who makes an election under paragraph (1).
The amount contributed by a judge to the Thrift Savings Fund in any pay period shall not exceed the maximum percentage of such judge’s basic pay for such period as allowable under section 8440f of title 5, United States Code. Basic pay does not include any retired pay paid pursuant to this section.
The provisions of section 8351(b)(5) of title 5, United States Code, shall apply with respect to a judge who makes an election under paragraph (1).
Notwithstanding subparagraph (C), if any judge retires under this section, or resigns without having met the age and service requirements set forth under subsection (b)(2), and such judge’s nonforfeitable account balance is less than an amount that the Executive Director of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board prescribes by regulation, the Executive Director shall pay the nonforfeitable account balance to the participant in a single payment.
In the case of a judge who receives a distribution from the Thrift Savings Plan and who later receives retired pay under subsection (d), the retired pay shall be offset by an amount equal to the amount of the distribution which represents the Government’s contribution to the individual’s Thrift Savings Account during years of service as a full-time judicial officer under the Federal Employees Retirement System, without regard to earnings attributable to such amount. Where such an offset would exceed 50 percent of the retired pay to be received in the first year, the offset may be divided equally over the first 2 years in which the individual receives the annuity.
For purposes of the limitation under section 501(a) of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.),11 See References in Text note below. any compensation for teaching approved under section 502(a)(5) of such Act shall not be treated as outside earned income when received by a judge of the United States Tax Court who has retired under subsection (b) for teaching performed during any calendar year for which such a judge has met the requirements of subsection (c), as certified by the chief judge, or has retired under subsection (b)(4).
(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 880; Pub. L. 89–354, § 1, Feb. 2, 1966, 80 Stat. 5; Pub. L. 91–172, title IX, §§ 954, 960(c), (d), Dec. 30, 1969, 83 Stat. 730, 734; Pub. L. 92–41, § 4(a), July 1, 1971, 85 Stat. 99; Pub. L. 95–472, § 1, Oct. 17, 1978, 92 Stat. 1332; Pub. L. 97–362, title I, § 106(d), Oct. 25, 1982, 96 Stat. 1730; Pub. L. 99–514, title XV, § 1557(a), (b), (d), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2756, 2757; Pub. L. 100–647, title I, § 1015(k)(1), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3571; Pub. L. 109–280, title VIII, § 853(a), Aug. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 1016; Pub. L. 113–295, div. A, title II, § 221(a)(115), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 4054; Pub. L. 117–328, div. T, title VII, § 701(a)(1), (2), (c)(1), (d)(1), Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 5398, 5401.)
Terms defined here
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Cross-references
Computed from the citations in the text of Title 26 and 26 CFR.
This section cites 2 other sections
- § 7443(a) Membership
- § 7448 Annuities to surviving spouses and dependent children of judges and special trial judges
Cited by 2 Code sections
Amendment history
From the source credit and the official notes, newest first.
- Amended by Pub. L. 117–328Parts changed in 2022: (g)(2)(C) (i)(2) (j)(3)(B) (j)(3)(F) (k)
- Amended by Pub. L. 113–295Parts changed in 2014: (i)(3)(B)(ii)
- Amended by Pub. L. 109–280Parts changed in 2006: (j)
- Amended by Pub. L. 100–647Parts changed in 1988: (d)
- Amended by Pub. L. 99–514Parts changed in 1986: (a)(2) (b)(2) (e) (f) (g)(2)(C)
- Amended by Pub. L. 97–362Parts changed in 1982: (b)
- Amended by Pub. L. 95–472Parts changed in 1978: (i)
- Amended by Pub. L. 92–41Parts changed in 1971: (c)
- Amended by Pub. L. 91–172Parts changed in 1969: (a)(4) (a)(1) (a)(5) (b) (d) (g)(1) (g)(2) (g)(3) (g)(4) (h)
- Enacted by Pub. L. 89–354Parts changed in 1966: (d)
Where it sits in the Code
- Subtitle F Procedure and Administration
- Chapter 76 JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS
- Subchapter C The Tax Court
- Part I ORGANIZATION AND JURISDICTION
Nearby sections
Official notes
Show the Law Revision Counsel's notes (amendments, effective dates)
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Sections 501(a) and 502(a)(5) of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, referred to in subsec. (k), are sections 501(a) and 502(a)(5) of Pub. L. 95–521, which were set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, and were repealed and restated as sections 13143(a) and 13144(a)(5), respectively, of Title 5 by Pub. L. 117–286, §§ 3(c), 7, Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4303, 4304, 4361.
Amendments
2022—Subsec. (g)(2)(C). Pub. L. 117–328, § 701(c)(1)(A), substituted “sections 8331(8) and 8401(19)” for “section 8331(8)”.
Subsec. (i)(2). Pub. L. 117–328, § 701(c)(1)(B), substituted “Office of Personnel Management” for “Civil Service Commission” in two places.
Subsec. (j)(3)(B). Pub. L. 117–328, § 701(a)(1), amended subpar. (B) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “No contributions may be made for the benefit of a judge under section 8432(c) of title 5, United States Code.”
Subsec. (j)(3)(F). Pub. L. 117–328, § 701(a)(2), added subpar. (F).
Subsec. (k). Pub. L. 117–328, § 701(d)(1), added subsec. (k).
2014—Subsec. (i)(3)(B)(ii). Pub. L. 113–295 substituted “at 3 percent per annum” for “at 4 percent per annum to December 31, 1947, and 3 percent per annum thereafter”.
2006—Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 109–280 added subsec. (j).
1988—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 100–647 inserted at end “In computing the rate of the retired pay under paragraph (1) of this subsection for any individual who is entitled thereto, any period during which such individual performs services under subsection (c) on a substantially full-time basis shall be treated as a period during which he has served as a judge.”
1986—Subsec. (a)(2), (3), (5). Pub. L. 99–514, § 1557(d)(1), redesignated pars. (3) and (5) as (2) and (3), respectively, and struck out former par. (2) which read as follows: “The term ‘Civil Service Commission’ means the United States Civil Service Commission.”
Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 99–514, § 1557(a), amended par. (2) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (2) read as follows: “Any judge who has attained the age of 65 may retire any time after serving as judge for 15 years or more.”
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 99–514, § 1557(d)(2), substituted “Office of Personnel Management” for “Civil Service Commission” in par. (4) and in last sentence.
Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 99–514, § 1557(b), amended subsec. (f) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (f), individuals receiving retired pay to be available for recall, read as follows: “Any individual who has elected to receive retired pay under subsection (d) who thereafter—
“(1) accepts civil office or employment under the Government of the United States (other than the performance of judicial duties pursuant to subsection (c)); or
“(2) performs (or supervises or directs the performance of) legal or accounting services in the field of Federal taxation or in the field of the renegotiation of Federal contracts for his client, his employer, or any of his employer’s clients,
shall forfeit all rights to retired pay under subsection (d) for all periods beginning on or after the first day on which he accepts such office or employment or engages in any activity described in paragraph (2). Any individual who has elected to receive retired pay under subsection (d) who thereafter during any calendar year fails to perform judicial duties required of him by subsection (c) shall forfeit all rights to retired pay under subsection (d) for the 1-year period which begins on the first day on which he so fails to perform such duties.”
Subsec. (g)(2)(C). Pub. L. 99–514, § 1557(d)(3), substituted “Office of Personnel Management” for “Civil Service Commission”.
1982—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 97–362 inserted provision that any judge who retires shall be designated “senior judge”.
1978—Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 95–472 added subsec. (i).
1971—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 92–41 substituted “At or after his retirement, any individual who has elected to receive” for “Any individual who is receiving”.
1969—Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 91–172, § 954(e)(1), struck out par. (4) which defined the term “Civil Service Retirement Act”.
Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 91–172, § 960(c), substituted “United States Tax Court” for “Tax Court of the United States”.
Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 91–172, § 960(d), inserted reference to service as a judge of the Tax Court of the United States.
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 91–172, § 954(a), substituted provisions authorizing retirement at age 70, or age 65 after serving 15 years, or when any judge has become permanently disabled, authorizing any judge not reappointed who has served 15 years or more to retire under enumerated condition, and rendering section 8335(a) of title 5 not applicable to judges, for provisions authorizing retirement after a judge has served 18 years, requiring anyone who served as a judge for 10 years or more and attained the age of 70 years to retire no later than the close of the third month beginning after the month in which he attained 70 years or the month completing the tenth year of service or August 1953, and rendering section 2(a) of the Civil Service Retirement Act not applicable to judges.
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 91–172, § 954(b), substituted provisions specifying methods of computation of retirement pay under subsec. (b) of this section so as to conform such provisions to subsec. (b) (relating to conditions for retiring), for provisions specifying methods of computation for retirement pay under former subsec. (b) of this section (relating to conditions for retiring).
Subsec. (g)(1). Pub. L. 91–172, § 954(e)(2), substituted “civil service retirement laws” and “such civil service retirement laws apply” for “Civil Service Retirement Act” and “such Act applies”, respectively.
Subsec. (g)(2). Pub. L. 91–172, § 954(c), substituted provisions that any individual electing to receive retirement pay under subsec. (d) of this section is not to receive any payment under the civil service retirement laws, and no deduction is to be made for the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund, and a lump-sum credit computed under section 8331(8) of Title 5 is to be paid, for provisions which enumerated the effects and conditions of electing retirement pay under former subsec. (d) of this section.
Subsec. (g)(3). Pub. L. 91–172, § 954(c), struck out par. (3) which enumerated the conditions and effects of waiving civil service benefits in lieu of retirement pay under former subsec. (d) of this section.
Subsec. (g)(4). Pub. L. 91–172, § 954(c), struck out par. (4) which provided that the fourth and sixth paragraphs of section 6 of the Civil Service Retirement Act would be applicable to retirement pay accruing under subsec. (d) of this section.
Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 91–172, § 954(d), added subsec. (h).
1966—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 89–354 substituted “during any period at a rate which bears the same ratio to the rate of the salary payable to a judge during such period” for “at a rate which bears the same ratio to the rate of the salary payable to him as judge at the time he ceases to be a judge” and “the rate of such salary for such period” for “the rate of such salary” wherever appearing.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2022 Amendment
Pub. L. 117–328, div. T, title VII, § 701(a)(3), Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 5398, provided that: “The amendments made by this subsection [amending this section] shall apply to basic pay earned while serving as a judge of the United States Tax Court on or after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 29, 2022].”
Pub. L. 117–328, div. T, title VII, § 701(d)(2), Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 5402, provided that: “The amendment made by this subsection [amending this section] shall apply to any individual serving as a retired judge of the United States Tax Court on or after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 29, 2022].”
Pub. L. 117–328, div. T, title VII, § 701(e), Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 5402, provided that: “Except as otherwise provided, the amendments made by this section [amending this section and section 7448 of this title] shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 29, 2022].”
Effective Date of 2014 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 113–295 effective Dec. 19, 2014, subject to a savings provision, see section 221(b) of Pub. L. 113–295, set out as a note under section 1 of this title.
Effective Date of 2006 Amendment
Pub. L. 109–280, title VIII, § 853(b), Aug. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 1017, provided that: “The amendment made by this section [amending this section] shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act [Aug. 17, 2006], except that United States Tax Court judges may only begin to participate in the Thrift Savings Plan at the next open season beginning after such date.”
Effective Date of 1988 Amendment
Pub. L. 100–647, title I, § 1015(k)(2), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3571, provided that: “The amendment made by paragraph (1) [amending this section] shall apply for purposes of determining the amount of retired pay for months beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 10, 1988] regardless of when the services under section 7447(c) of the 1986 Code were performed.”
Effective Date of 1986 Amendment
Pub. L. 99–514, title XV, § 1557(e), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2757, provided that:
“(1) In general.— The amendments made by this section [amending this section and section 7448 of this title] shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 22, 1986].“(2) Forfeiture of retired pay.— The amendments made by this section shall not apply to any individual who, before the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 22, 1986], forfeited his rights to retired pay under section 7447(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 [now 1986] by reason of the 1st sentence of section 7447(f) of such Code (as in effect on the day before such date).”
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Pub. L. 95–472, § 2(a), Oct. 17, 1978, 92 Stat. 1332, provided that: “The amendment made by the first section of this Act [amending this section] shall apply with respect to revocations made after the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 17, 1978].”
Effective Date of 1971 Amendment
Pub. L. 92–41, § 4(c)(1), July 1, 1971, 85 Stat. 99, as amended by Pub. L. 99–514, § 2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2095, provided that: “The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall be effective as if included in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [formerly I.R.C. 1954] on the date of its enactment [July 1, 1971]. Provisions having the same effect as such amendment shall be treated as having been included in the Internal Revenue Code of 1939 [section 1106(c)] effective on and after August 7, 1953.”
Effective Date of 1969 Amendment
Amendment by sections 954(c), (e) and 960(c), (d) of Pub. L. 91–172 effective Dec. 30, 1969, see section 962(a) of Pub. L. 91–172, set out as a note under section 7441 of this title.
Pub. L. 91–172, title IX, § 962(d), Dec. 30, 1969, 83 Stat. 736, as amended by Pub. L. 99–514, § 2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2095, provided that:
“The amendments made by subsections (a), (b), and (d) of section 954 [amending this section] shall apply to—“(1) all judges of the Tax Court retiring on or after the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 30, 1969], and“(2) all individuals performing judicial duties pursuant to section 7447(c) or receiving retired pay pursuant to section 7447(d) on the day preceding the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 30, 1969].Any individual who has served as a judge of the Tax Court for 18 years or more by the end of one year after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 30, 1969] may retire in accordance with the provisions of section 7447 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [formerly I.R.C. 1954] as in effect on the day preceding the date of the enactment of this Act. Any individual who is a judge of the Tax Court on the date of the enactment of this Act may retire under the provisions of section 7447 of such Code upon the completion of the term of his office, if he is not reappointed as a judge of the Tax Court and gives notice to the President within the time prescribed by section 7447(b) of such Code (or if his term expires within 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, gives notice to the President before the expiration of 3 months after the date of enactment of this Act), and shall receive retired pay at a rate which bears the same ratio to the rate of the salary payable to a judge as the number of years he has served as a judge of the Tax Court bears to 15; except that the rate of such retired pay shall not exceed the rate of the salary of a judge of the Tax Court. For purposes of the preceding sentence the years of service as a judge of the Tax Court shall be determined in the manner set forth in section 7447(d) of such Code.”
Effective Date of 1966 Amendment
Pub. L. 89–354, § 2, Feb. 2, 1966, 80 Stat. 5, as amended by Pub. L. 99–514, § 2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2095, provided that: “The amendments made by the first section of this Act [amending this section and section 1106 of I.R.C. 1939] shall apply with respect to retired pay accruing under section 1106 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1939 or section 7447 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [formerly I.R.C. 1954] on or after the first day of the first calendar month which begins after the date of enactment of this Act [Feb. 2, 1966].”
Redepositing Funds in Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund; Creditable Service
Pub. L. 95–472, § 2(b), Oct. 17, 1978, 92 Stat. 1333, as amended by Pub. L. 99–514, § 2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2095, provided that: “Any individual who elects to revoke under section 7447(i) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [formerly I.R.C. 1954] within one year after the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 17, 1978] shall be treated as having the requisite current service for purposes of redepositing funds in the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund and for purposes of reviving creditable service under subchapter III of chapter 83 of title 5 of the United States Code.”
Executive Documents
Transfer of Functions
Functions vested by statute in United States Civil Service Commission or Chairman thereof transferred to Director of Office of Personnel Management (except as otherwise specified) by Reorg. Plan No. 2 of 1978, § 102, 43 F.R. 36037, 92 Stat. 3783, set out under section 1101 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, effective Jan. 1, 1979, as provided by section 1–102 of Ex. Ord. No. 12107, Dec. 28, 1978, 44 F.R. 1055, set out under section 1101 of Title 5.