Title 26 — Internal Revenue CodeRelease 119-73
§6041 Information at source
Title 26 › Subtitle Subtitle F— - Procedure and Administration › Chapter CHAPTER 61— - INFORMATION AND RETURNS › Subchapter Subchapter A— - Returns and Records › Part PART III— - INFORMATION RETURNS › Subpart Subpart B— - Information Concerning Transactions With Other Persons › § 6041
Summary
Requires businesses to tell the IRS when they pay a person $2,000 or more in a calendar year for things like rent, wages, annuities, premiums, or other similar income. The business must file a true return that shows how much was paid and the payee’s name and address. The return must separately show amounts reasonably marked as cash tips and any qualified overtime compensation, and for tipped non-employees it must show the tip amount and the person’s occupation. People who collect foreign interest or dividend payments for profit must also report the amount and recipient. If needed to make this work, the payer must give the recipient’s name and address when asked. Anyone who must file also has to give the payee a written statement with a contact name/phone, the total paid, the cash tips portion and occupation for non-employees, and the qualified overtime portion. The rule does not apply to tips covered by section 6053(a) or to medical-care payments under certain flexible spending or health reimbursement arrangements. It also covers certain nonqualified deferred compensation and amounts includible under section 409A, with one reporting exception under section 6051(a)(13). For years after 2026, the $2,000 threshold will be increased for inflation using the cost‑of‑living formula in section 1(f)(3) with “calendar year 2025” substituted for “calendar year 2016.”
Full Legal Text
Title 26, §6041
Internal Revenue Code — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)All persons engaged in a trade or business and making payment in the course of such trade or business to another person, of rent, salaries, wages, premiums, annuities, compensations, remunerations, emoluments, or other fixed or determinable gains, profits, and income (other than payments to which section 6042(a)(1), 6044(a)(1), 6047(e), 6049(a), or 6050N(a) applies, and other than payments with respect to which a statement is required under the authority of section 6042(a)(2), 6044(a)(2), or 6045), of $2,000 or more in any calendar year, or, in the case of such payments made by the United States, the officers or employees of the United States having information as to such payments and required to make returns in regard thereto by the regulations hereinafter provided for, shall render a true and accurate return to the Secretary, under such regulations and in such form and manner and to such extent as may be prescribed by the Secretary, setting forth the amount of such gains, profits, and income (including a separate accounting of any such amounts reasonably designated as cash tips and the occupation described in section 224(d)(1) of the person receiving such tips and a separate accounting of any amount of qualified overtime compensation (as defined in section 225(c))), and the name and address of the recipient of such payment.
(b)In the case of collections of items (not payable in the United States) of interest upon the bonds of foreign countries and interest upon the bonds of and dividends from foreign corporations by any person undertaking as a matter of business or for profit the collection of foreign payments of such interest or dividends by means of coupons, checks, or bills of exchange, such person shall make a return according to the forms or regulations prescribed by the Secretary, setting forth the amount paid and the name and address of the recipient of each such payment.
(c)When necessary to make effective the provisions of this section, the name and address of the recipient of income shall be furnished upon demand of the person paying the income.
(d)Every person required to make a return under subsection (a) shall furnish to each person with respect to whom such a return is required a written statement showing—
(1)the name, address, and phone number of the information contact of the person required to make such return,
(2)the aggregate amount of payments to the person required to be shown on the return,
(3)in the case of compensation to non-employees, the portion of payments that have been reasonably designated as cash tips and the occupation described in section 224(d)(1) of the person receiving such tips, and
(4)the portion of payments that are qualified overtime compensation (as defined in section 225(c)).
(e)This section shall not apply to tips with respect to which section 6053(a) (relating to reporting of tips) applies.
(f)This section shall not apply to any payment for medical care (as defined in section 213(d)) made under—
(1)a flexible spending arrangement (as defined in section 106(c)(2)), or
(2)a health reimbursement arrangement which is treated as employer-provided coverage under an accident or health plan for purposes of section 106.
(g)Subsection (a) shall apply to—
(1)any deferrals for the year under a nonqualified deferred compensation plan (within the meaning of section 409A(d)), whether or not paid, except that this paragraph shall not apply to deferrals which are required to be reported under section 6051(a)(13) (without regard to any de minimis exception), and
(2)any amount includible under section 409A and which is not treated as wages under section 3401(a).
(h)In the case of any calendar year after 2026, the dollar amount in subsection (a) shall be increased by an amount equal to—
(1)such dollar amount, multiplied by
(2)the cost-of-living adjustment determined under section 1(f)(3) for such calendar year, determined by substituting “calendar year 2025” for “calendar year 2016” in subparagraph (A)(ii) thereof.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2025—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 119–21, § 70433(e), substituted “exceeding threshold” for “of $600 or more” in heading and “calendar year” for “taxable year” in text. Pub. L. 119–21, § 70433(a), substituted “$2,000” for “$600”. Pub. L. 119–21, § 70202(c)(2)(A), which directed the insertion of “and a separate accounting of any amount of qualified overtime compensation (as defined in section 225(c))” after “occupation of the person receiving such tips”, was executed by making the insertion after “occupation described in section 224(d)(1) of the person receiving such tips”, to reflect the probable intent of Congress. Pub. L. 119–21, § 70201(f)(1)(A), inserted “(including a separate accounting of any such amounts reasonably designated as cash tips and the occupation described in section 224(d)(1) of the person receiving such tips)” after “such gains, profits, and income”. Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 119–21, § 70201(f)(1)(B), added par. (3). Subsec. (d)(4). Pub. L. 119–21, § 70202(c)(2)(B), added par. (4). Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 119–21, § 70433(b), added subsec. (h). 2011—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 112–9, § 2(b), struck out “amounts in consideration for property,” after “salaries, wages,”, “gross proceeds,” after “emoluments, or other”, and “gross proceeds,” after “setting forth the amount of such”. Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 112–9, § 3(a), struck out subsec. (h) which related to treatment of rental property expense payments. Subsecs. (i), (j). Pub. L. 112–9, § 2(a), struck out subsecs. (i) and (j) which read as follows: “(i) Application to Corporations.—Notwithstanding any regulation prescribed by the Secretary before the date of the enactment of this subsection, for purposes of this section the term ‘person’ includes any corporation that is not an organization exempt from tax under section 501(a). “(j)
Regulations
.—The Secretary may prescribe such
Regulations
and other guidance as may be appropriate or necessary to carry out the purposes of this section, including rules to prevent duplicative reporting of transactions.” 2010—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 111–148, § 9006(b), inserted “amounts in consideration for property,” after “salaries, wages,”, “gross proceeds,” after “emoluments, or other”, and “gross proceeds,” after “setting forth the amount of such”. Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 111–240 added subsec. (h). Former subsec. (h) redesignated (i). Pub. L. 111–148, § 9006(a), added subsec. (h). Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 111–240 redesignated subsec. (h) as (i). Former subsec. (i) redesignated (j). Pub. L. 111–148, § 9006(a), added subsec. (i). Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 111–240 redesignated subsec. (i) as (j). 2004—Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 108–357 added subsec. (g). 2003—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 108–173 added subsec. (f). 1996—Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 104–168 substituted “name, address, and phone number of the information contact” for “name and address”. 1986—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 99–514, § 1523(b)(2), substituted “6049(a), or 6050N(a)” for “or 6049(a)”. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 99–514, § 1501(c)(1), in amending subsec. (d) generally, substituted “information is required” for “information is furnished” in heading and, in text, substituted references to persons required to make returns for former references to persons making returns. 1984—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 98–369 inserted “6047(e),”. 1982—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 97–248 substituted “6049(a)” for “6049(a)(1)”, and “or 6045” for “6045, 6049(a)(2), or 6049(a)(3)”. 1981—Subsecs. (d), (e). Pub. L. 97–34 added subsec. (d) and redesignated former subsec. (d) as (e). 1978—Subsecs. (c), (d). Pub. L. 95–600 added subsec. (d) and redesignated subsec. (d) as (c). 1976—Subsecs. (a), (b). Pub. L. 94–455 struck out “or his delegate” after “Secretary”. 1962—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 87–834, § 19(f)(1), substituted “(other than payments to which section 6042(a)(1), 6044(a)(1), or 6049(a)(1) applies, and other than payments with respect to which a statement is required under the authority of section 6042(a)(2), 6044(a)(2), 6045, 6049(a)(2), or 6049(a)(3))” for “other than payments described in section 6042(1) or section 6045)”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 87–834, § 19(f)(2), repealed subsec. (c) which related to returns of payments of interest by corporations.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 2025 AmendmentAmendment by section 70201(f)(1) of Pub. L. 119–21 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 2024, see section 70201(j) of Pub. L. 119–21, set out as a note under section 45B of this title. Amendment by section 70202(c)(2) of Pub. L. 119–21 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 2024, see section 70202(g) of Pub. L. 119–21, set out as a note under section 63 of this title. Amendment by section 70433(a), (b), (e) of Pub. L. 119–21 applicable with respect to payments made after Dec. 31, 2025, see section 70433(f) of Pub. L. 119–21, set out as a note under section 3406 of this title.
Effective Date
of 2011 Amendment Pub. L. 112–9, § 2(c), Apr. 14, 2011, 125 Stat. 36, provided that: “The
Amendments
made by this section [amending this section] shall apply to payments made after
December 31, 2011.” Pub. L. 112–9, § 3(b), Apr. 14, 2011, 125 Stat. 36, provided that: “The amendment made by this section [amending this section] shall apply to payments made after
December 31, 2010.”
Effective Date
of 2010 Amendment Pub. L. 111–240, title II, § 2101(b), Sept. 27, 2010, 124 Stat. 2561, provided that: “The
Amendments
made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply to payments made after December 31, 2010.” Pub. L. 111–148, title IX, § 9006(c), Mar. 23, 2010, 124 Stat. 855, provided that: “The
Amendments
made by this section [amending this section] shall apply to payments made after December 31, 2011.”
Effective Date
of 2004 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 108–357 applicable to amounts deferred after Dec. 31, 2004, with special rules relating to earnings and material modifications and exception for nonelective deferred compensation, see section 885(d) of Pub. L. 108–357, set out as an
Effective Date
note under section 409A of this title.
Effective Date
of 2003 Amendment Pub. L. 108–173, title XII, § 1203(b), Dec. 8, 2003, 117 Stat. 2480, provided that: “The amendment made by this section [amending this section] shall apply to payments made after December 31, 2002.”
Effective Date
of 1996 Amendment Pub. L. 104–168, title XII, § 1201(b), July 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 1470, provided that: “The
Amendments
made by subsection (a) [amending this section and section 6041A, 6042, 6044, 6045, 6049, 6050B, 6050H to 6050K, and 6050N of this title] shall apply to statements required to be furnished after December 31, 1996 (determined without regard to any extension).”
Effective Date
of 1986 AmendmentAmendment by section 1501(c)(1) of Pub. L. 99–514 applicable to returns the due date for which (determined without regard to extensions) is after Dec. 31, 1986, see section 1501(e) of Pub. L. 99–514, set out as an
Effective Date
note under section 6721 of this title. Amendment by section 1523(b)(2) of Pub. L. 99–514 applicable to payments made after Dec. 31, 1986, see section 1523(d) of Pub. L. 99–514, set out as an
Effective Date
note under section 6050N of this title.
Effective Date
of 1984 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 98–369 applicable to payments or distributions after Dec. 31, 1984, unless the payor elects to have such amendment apply to payments or distributions before Jan. 1, 1985, see section 722(h)(5)(B) of Pub. L. 98–369, set out as a note under section 643 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1982 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 97–248 applicable to amounts paid (or treated as paid) after Dec. 31, 1982, see section 309(c) of Pub. L. 97–248, set out as a note under section 6049 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1981 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 97–34 applicable to returns and statements required to be furnished after Dec. 31, 1981, see section 723(c) of Pub. L. 97–34, set out as a note under section 6652 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1978 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 95–600 applicable to payments made after Dec. 31, 1978, see section 501(c) of Pub. L. 95–600, set out as a note under section 6001 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1962 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 87–834 applicable to payments of dividends and interest made on or after Jan. 1, 1963, and to payments of amounts described in section 6044(b) of this title made on or after Jan. 1, 1963. with respect to patronage occurring on or after the first day of the first taxable year of the cooperative beginning on or after Jan. 1, 1963, see section 19(h) of Pub. L. 87–834, set out as a note under section 6042 of this title. Transition Rule Pub. L. 119–21, title VII, § 70201(k),
July 4, 2025, 139 Stat. 173, provided that: “In the case of any cash tips required to be reported for periods before
January 1, 2026, persons required to file returns or statements under section 6041(a), 6041(d)(3), 6041A(a), 6041A(e)(3), 6050W(a), or 6050W(f)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as amended by this section) may approximate a separate accounting of amounts designated as cash tips by any reasonable method specified by the Secretary.” Pub. L. 119–21, title VII, § 70202(h),
July 4, 2025, 139 Stat. 175, provided that: “In the case of qualified overtime compensation required to be reported for periods before
January 1, 2026, persons required to file returns or statements under section 6051(a)(19), 6041(a), or 6041(d)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as amended by this section) may approximate a separate accounting of amounts designated as qualified overtime compensation by any reasonable method specified by the Secretary.” Allowance of Electronic 1099’s Pub. L. 107–147, title IV, § 401, Mar. 9, 2002, 116 Stat. 40, provided that: “Any person required to furnish a statement under any section of subpart B of part III of subchapter A of chapter 61 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for any taxable year ending after the date of the enactment of this Act [Mar. 9, 2002], may electronically furnish such statement (without regard to any first class mailing requirement) to any recipient who has consented to the electronic provision of the statement in a manner similar to the one permitted under
Regulations
issued under section 6051 of such Code or in such other manner as provided by the Secretary.” Employer’s Duties in Connection With Recording and Reporting of Tips Pub. L. 94–455, title XXI, § 2211, Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1905, as amended by Pub. L. 99–514, § 2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2095, provided that: “(a) Suspension of Rulings.—Until January 1, 1979, the law with respect to the duty of an employer under section 6041(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [formerly I.R.C. 1954] to report charge account tips of employees to the Internal Revenue Service (other than charge account tips included in statements furnished to the employer under section 6053(a) of such Code) shall be administered—“(1) without regard to Revenue Rulings 75–400 and 76–231, and “(2) in accordance with the manner in which such law was administered before the issuance of such rulings. “(b)
Effective Date
.—This section shall take effect on January 1, 1976.”
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
26 U.S.C. § 6041
Title 26 — Internal Revenue Code
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73