Title 42The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73

§1490h Taxation of property held by Secretary

Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 8A— - SLUM CLEARANCE, URBAN RENEWAL, AND FARM HOUSING › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER III— - FARM HOUSING › § 1490h

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Property owned by the United States or held by the Secretary under this law (unless used for administrative purposes) must be taxed by states and local governments the same as other property. But no tax may be charged or collected when the tax is based on the value of notes, mortgages, or other lien documents, on notes or lien documents made or held by someone already liable, or on property transferred to the Secretary. Not paying those taxes cannot be used to refuse to record or file the papers, to withhold notice, or to stop enforcing the claim in state or federal court.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §1490h

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

All property subject to a lien held by the United States or the title to which is acquired or held by the Secretary under this subchapter other than property used for administrative purposes shall be subject to taxation by a State, Commonwealth, territory, possession, district, and local political subdivisions in the same manner and to the same extent as other property is taxed: Provided, That no tax shall be imposed or collected on or with respect to any instrument if the tax is based on—
(1)the value of any notes or mortgages or other lien instruments held by or transferred to the Secretary;
(2)any notes or lien instruments administered under this subchapter which are made, assigned, or held by a person otherwise liable for such tax; or
(3)the value of any property conveyed or transferred to the Secretary, whether as a tax on the instrument, the privilege of conveying or transferring, or the recordation thereof; nor shall the failure to pay or collect any such tax be a ground for refusal to record or file such instruments, or for failure to impart notice, or prevent the enforcement of its provisions in any State or Federal court.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1984—Pub. L. 98–479 substituted “property held by Secretary” for “Farmers Home Administration-held property” in section catchline.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Pub. L. 95–128, title V, § 512(c), Oct. 12, 1977, 91 Stat. 1142, provided that: “The amendment made by subsection (a) [enacting this section] shall become effective as of
January 1, 1977.” Refund of Tax Payments Prior to
October 12, 1977, Barred; Federal Officers or Employees Not Liable for Such Payments Pub. L. 95–128, title V, § 512(b), Oct. 12, 1977, 91 Stat. 1142, provided that: “Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no State, Commonwealth, territory, possession, district, or local political subdivision which has received, prior to the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 12, 1977], tax payments from the Department of Agriculture based on property held by the Farmers Home Administration shall be liable for, or be obligated to refund, the amount of any such payment, which, if it had been made after the date of enactment of this Act, would have been authorized by the provisions of section 528 of the Housing Act of 1949 [this section], and no officer or employee of the United States shall incur or be under any liability by reason of having made or authorized any such payments.”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 1490h

Title 42The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73