§4944 — Title 26 Internal Revenue Code | U.S. Code

Summary

A private foundation that puts money into an investment risky enough to jeopardize its charitable mission owes a tax of 10 percent of the amount invested for each year, or part of a year, that the problem lasts. A foundation manager who knowingly approved the investment owes a separate 10 percent tax, unless the manager's role was not willful and had reasonable cause. If the foundation does not fix the problem in time, it owes another tax of 25 percent of the investment, and a manager who refuses to help fix it owes 5 percent. A manager's tax is capped at $10,000 for the first tax and $20,000 for the second, and managers who share blame are jointly liable. Investments made mainly to advance the foundation's charitable purposes, with no significant aim of producing income or gains, do not count as jeopardizing investments.

Title 26, §4944

Internal Revenue Code — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)If a private foundation invests any amount in such a manner as to jeopardize the carrying out of any of its exempt purposes, there is hereby imposed on the making of such investment a tax equal to 10 percent of the amount so invested for each year (or part thereof) in the taxable period. The tax imposed by this paragraph shall be paid by the private foundation.

(2)In any case in which a tax is imposed by paragraph (1), there is hereby imposed on the participation of any foundation manager in the making of the investment, knowing that it is jeopardizing the carrying out of any of the foundation’s exempt purposes, a tax equal to 10 percent of the amount so invested for each year (or part thereof) in the taxable period, unless such participation is not willful and is due to reasonable cause. The tax imposed by this paragraph shall be paid by any foundation manager who participated in the making of the investment.

(b)(1)In any case in which an initial tax is imposed by subsection (a)(1) on the making of an investment and such investment is not removed from jeopardy within the taxable period, there is hereby imposed a tax equal to 25 percent of the amount of the investment. The tax imposed by this paragraph shall be paid by the private foundation.

(2)In any case in which an additional tax is imposed by paragraph (1), if a foundation manager refused to agree to part or all of the removal from jeopardy, there is hereby imposed a tax equal to 5 percent of the amount of the investment. The tax imposed by this paragraph shall be paid by any foundation manager who refused to agree to part or all of the removal from jeopardy.

(c)For purposes of this section, investments, the primary purpose of which is to accomplish one or more of the purposes described in section 170(c)(2)(B), and no significant purpose of which is the production of income or the appreciation of property, shall not be considered as investments which jeopardize the carrying out of exempt purposes.

(d)For purposes of subsections (a) and (b)—

(1)If more than one person is liable under subsection (a)(2) or (b)(2) with respect to any one investment, all such persons shall be jointly and severally liable under such paragraph with respect to such investment.

(2)With respect to any one investment, the maximum amount of the tax imposed by subsection (a)(2) shall not exceed $10,000, and the maximum amount of the tax imposed by subsection (b)(2) shall not exceed $20,000.

(e)For purposes of this section—

(1)The term “taxable period” means, with respect to any investment which jeopardizes the carrying out of exempt purposes, the period beginning with the date on which the amount is so invested and ending on the earliest of—

(A)the date of mailing of a notice of deficiency with respect to the tax imposed by subsection (a)(1) under section 6212,

(B)the date on which the tax imposed by subsection (a)(1) is assessed, or

(C)the date on which the amount so invested is removed from jeopardy.

(2)An investment which jeopardizes the carrying out of exempt purposes shall be considered to be removed from jeopardy when such investment is sold or otherwise disposed of, and the proceeds of such sale or other disposition are not investments which jeopardize the carrying out of exempt purposes.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification section 1212(d) of Pub. L. 109–280, which directed the amendment of section 4944 without specifying the act to be amended, was executed to this section, which is section 4944 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, to reflect the probable intent of Congress. See 2006 Amendment notes below.

Amendments

2006—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 109–280, § 1212(d)(1), substituted “10 percent” for “5 percent” in pars. (1) and (2). See Codification note above. Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 109–280, § 1212(d)(2), substituted “$10,000,” for “$5,000,” and “$20,000.” for “$10,000.” See Codification note above. 1980—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 96–596, § 2(a)(1)(E), substituted “taxable period” for “correction period”. Subsec. (e)(1)(B), (C). Pub. L. 96–596, § 2(a)(2)(D), added subpar. (B) and redesignated former subpar. (B) as (C). Subsec. (e)(3). Pub. L. 96–596, § 2(a)(3)(D), struck out par. (3), which defined correction period, with respect to any investment which jeopardizes the carrying out of exempt purposes, as the period beginning with the date on which such investment is entered into and ending 90 days after the date of mailing of a notice of deficiency with respect to the tax imposed by subsec. (b)(1) of this section under section 6212 of this title, extended by any period in which a deficiency cannot be assessed under section 6213(a) of this title and any other period which the Secretary determines is reasonable and necessary to bring about removal from jeopardy. 1976—Subsec. (e)(3)(B). Pub. L. 94–455 struck out “or his delegate” after “Secretary”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2006 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 109–280 applicable to taxable years beginning after Aug. 17, 2006, see section 1212(f) of Pub. L. 109–280, set out as a note under section 4941 of this title.

Effective Date

of 1980 AmendmentFor

Effective Date

of amendment by Pub. L. 96–596 with respect to any first tier tax and to any second tier tax, see section 2(d) of Pub. L. 96–596, set out as an

Effective Date

note under section 4961 of this title.

§4944 Taxes on Investments Which Jeopardize Charitable Purpose

Summary

Title 26, §4944

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Effective Date

Effective Date

Effective Date

Citations & Metadata