Title 26Internal Revenue CodeRelease 119-73

§6096 Designation by individuals

Title 26 › Subtitle Subtitle F— - Procedure and Administration › Chapter CHAPTER 61— - INFORMATION AND RETURNS › Subchapter Subchapter A— - Returns and Records › Part PART VIII— - DESIGNATION OF INCOME TAX PAYMENTS TO PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN FUND › § 6096

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

You can choose to have $3 of your federal income tax sent to the Presidential Election Campaign Fund. You must not be a nonresident alien. If a married couple files one return and owes at least $6, each spouse can each pick $3 to go to the fund. "Income tax liability" here means the tax shown on your return after subtracting certain tax credits. You can make the $3 choice when you file your return or later at a time allowed by IRS rules.

Full Legal Text

Title 26, §6096

Internal Revenue Code — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Every individual (other than a nonresident alien) whose income tax liability for the taxable year is $3 or more may designate that $3 shall be paid over to the Presidential Election Campaign Fund in accordance with the provisions of section 9006(a). In the case of a joint return of husband and wife having an income tax liability of $6 or more, each spouse may designate that $3 shall be paid to the fund.
(b)For purposes of subsection (a), the income tax liability of an individual for any taxable year is the amount of the tax imposed by chapter 1 on such individual for such taxable year (as shown on his return), reduced by the sum of the credits (as shown in his return) allowable under part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 (other than subpart C thereof).
(c)A designation under subsection (a) may be made with respect to any taxable year—
(1)at the time of filing the return of the tax imposed by chapter 1 for such taxable year, or
(2)at any other time (after the time of filing the return of the tax imposed by chapter 1 for such taxable year) specified in regulations prescribed by the Secretary.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1993—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–66 substituted “$6” for “$2” and “$3” for “$1” wherever appearing. 1984—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 98–369 substituted “allowable under part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 (other than subpart C thereof” for “allowable under section 33, 37, 38, 40, 41, 42, 44, 44A, 44B, 44C, 44D, 44E, 44F, 44G, and 44H”. 1983—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 97–414 inserted reference to section 44H. 1981—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 97–34, § 331(e)(1), inserted reference to section 44G. Pub. L. 97–34, § 221(c)(1), inserted reference to section 44F. 1980—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 96–223, §§ 231(b)(2), 232(b)(3)(C), inserted reference to section 44D and 44E. 1978—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 95–618 inserted reference to section 44C. 1977—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 95–30 inserted reference to section 44B. 1976—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 94–455, §§ 401(a)(2)(C), 504(c)(2), inserted reference to section 42 in subsec. (a) as in effect on day before date of enactment of Pub. L. 94–12 and reference to section 44A. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 94–455, § 1906(b)(13)(A), struck out “or his delegate” after “Secretary”. 1975—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 94–12 inserted reference to section 42 and 44. 1973—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 93–53 struck out “for the account of the candidates of any specified political party for President and Vice President of the United States, or if no specific account is designated by such individual, for a general account for all candidates for election to the offices of President and Vice President of the United States,” after “Fund” and substituted “section 9006(a)” for “section 9006(a)(1)”. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 93–53 struck out reference to section 32(2) and 35, and inserted reference to section 40 and 41. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 93–53 provided that if designation is made at the time of filing the return of the tax imposed by chapter 1 for the taxable year, the designation shall be made either on the first page of the return or on the page bearing the taxpayer’s signature. 1971—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 92–178 substituted “$1 shall be paid over to the Presidential Election Campaign Fund for the account of the candidates of any specified political party for President and Vice President of the United States, or if no specific account is designated by such individual, for a general account for all candidates for election to the offices of President and Vice President of the United States, in accordance with the provisions of section 9006(a)(1)” for “$1 shall be paid into the Presidential Election Campaign Fund established by section 303 of the Presidential Election Campaign Fund Act of 1966” and provided, in the case of a joint return of husband and wife having an income tax liability of $2 or more, that each spouse may designate that $1 shall be paid to any such account in the fund.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1993 Amendment Pub. L. 103–66, title XIII, § 13441(b), Aug. 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 568, provided that: “The

Amendments

made by subsection (a) [amending this section] apply with respect to tax returns required to be filed after December 31, 1993.”

Effective Date

of 1984 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 98–369 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1983, and to carrybacks from such years, see section 475(a) of Pub. L. 98–369, set out as a note under section 21 of this title.

Effective Date

of 1983 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 97–414 applicable to amounts paid or incurred after Dec. 31, 1982, in taxable years ending after such date, see section 4(d) of Pub. L. 97–414, set out as an

Effective Date

note under section 28 of this title.

Effective Date

of 1981 AmendmentAmendment by section 221(c)(1) of Pub. L. 97–34 applicable to amounts paid or incurred after June 30, 1981, see section 221(d) of Pub. L. 97–34, as amended, set out as an

Effective Date

note under section 41 of this title. Amendment by section 331(e)(1) of Pub. L. 97–34 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1981, see section 339 of Pub. L. 97–34, set out as a note under section 401 of this title.

Effective Date

of 1980 AmendmentAmendment by section 231(b)(2) of Pub. L. 96–223, applicable to taxable years ending after Dec. 31, 1979, see section 231(c) of Pub. L. 96–223, set out as an

Effective Date

note under section 45K of this title. Amendment by section 232(b)(3)(C) of Pub. L. 96–223 applicable to sales or uses after Sept. 30, 1980, in taxable years ending after that date, see section 232(h)(1) of Pub. L. 96–223, set out as an

Effective Date

note under section 40 of this title.

Effective Date

of 1978 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 95–618 applicable to taxable years ending on or after Apr. 20, 1977, see section 101(c) of Pub. L. 95–618, set out as a note under section 1016 of this title.

Effective Date

of 1977 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 95–30 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1976, and to credit carrybacks from such years, see section 202(e) of Pub. L. 95–30, set out as an

Effective Date

note under section 51 of this title. Effective and Termination Dates of 1976 AmendmentAmendment by section 401(a)(2)(C) of Pub. L. 94–455 applicable to taxable years ending after Dec. 31, 1975, but ceasing to be applicable to taxable years ending after Dec. 31, 1978, see section 401(e) of Pub. L. 94–455, as amended, set out as an

Effective Date

of 1976 Amendment note under section 32 of this title. Amendment by section 504(c)(2) of Pub. L. 94–455 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1975, see section 508 of Pub. L. 94–455, set out as an

Effective Date

of 1976 Amendment note under section 3 of this title. Effective and Termination Dates of 1975 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 94–12 applicable to taxable years ending after Dec. 31, 1974, and to cease to apply to taxable years ending after Dec. 31, 1975, see section 209(a) of Pub. L. 94–12, set out as a note under section 3 of this title.

Effective Date

of 1973 Amendment; Designation to the Presidential Election Campaign Fund Pub. L. 93–53, § 6(d), July 1, 1973, 87 Stat. 139, as amended by Pub. L. 99–514, § 2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2095, provided that: “The

Amendments

made by this section [amending this section and section 9003, 9006, 9007, and 9012 of this title] shall apply with respect to taxable years beginning after
December 31, 1972. Any designation made under section 6096 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [formerly I.R.C. 1954] (as in effect for taxable years beginning before
January 1, 1973) for the account of the candidates of any specified political party shall, for purposes of section 9006(a) of such Code (as amended by subsection (b)), be treated solely as a designation to the Presidential Election Campaign Fund.”

Effective Date

of Section and

Effective Date

of 1971 AmendmentProvisions of this section, together with amendment of subsec. (a) of this section by Pub. L. 92–178, applicable only to taxable years ending on or after Dec. 31, 1972, see section 802(b)(2) of Pub. L. 92–178, set out as a note under section 9001 of this title.

Effective Date

Pub. L. 89–809, title III, § 302(c), Nov. 13, 1966, 80 Stat. 1588, provided that: “The

Amendments

made by this section [enacting this section] shall apply with respect to income tax liability for taxable years beginning after December 31, 1966.”

Short Title

Pub. L. 89–809, title III, § 301, Nov. 13, 1966, 80 Stat. 1587, provided that: “This title [enacting this section and section 971, 972, and 973 of former Title 31, Money and Finance] may be cited as the ‘Presidential Election Campaign Fund Act of 1966’.” Adoption of Guidelines Pub. L. 90–26, § 5, June 13, 1967, 81 Stat. 58, as amended by Pub. L. 99–514, § 2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2095, provided that: “(a) Funds which become available under the Presidential Election Campaign Fund Act of 1966 [this section and section 971 et seq. of former Title 31, Money and Finance] shall be appropriated and disbursed only after the adoption by law of guidelines governing their distribution. section 6096 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [formerly I.R.C. 1954] shall become applicable only after the adoption by law of such guidelines. “(b) Guidelines adopted in accordance with this section shall state expressly that they are intended to comply with this section.”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

26 U.S.C. § 6096

Title 26Internal Revenue Code

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73