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Title 26, Internal Revenue CodeRelease 119-110

§4948 Application of Taxes and Denial of Exemption with Respect to Certain Foreign Organizations

Title 26 › Subtitle D — Miscellaneous Excise Taxes › CHAPTER 42 — PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS; AND CERTAIN OTHER TAX-EXEMPT ORGANIZATIONS › Subchapter A — Private Foundations › § 4948

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Foreign private foundations that get investment income from U.S. sources must pay a tax of 4 percent on that income instead of the tax under section 4940. If a foreign group gets substantially all of its support (other than investment income) from outside the United States, sections 507 and 508 and the rest of this chapter (except this rule) do not apply to it. If such a foreign organization does a "prohibited transaction" after December 31, 1969, it loses its tax-exempt status under section 501(a). A prohibited transaction is any act or failure to act (except under section 4942(e)) that would have led to penalties or taxes for a U.S. private foundation or a disqualified person. The loss of exemption starts with the tax year when the Secretary notifies the organization, and the Secretary publishes that notice in the Federal Register the same day. The group may apply under Secretary rules to get exemption again beginning with the second tax year after the notice (or later) if the Secretary is convinced it will not repeat the violation. Gifts or bequests to the group made after the notice and while it is not exempt are not deductible.

Full Legal Text

Title 26, §4948

Internal Revenue Code, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Tax on income of certain foreign organizations
In lieu of the tax imposed by section 4940, there is hereby imposed for each taxable year on the gross investment income (within the meaning of section 4940(c)(2)) derived from sources within the United States (within the meaning of section 861) by every foreign organization which is a private foundation for the taxable year a tax equal to 4 percent of such income.
(b)Certain sections inapplicable
section 507 (relating to termination of private foundation status), section 508 (relating to special rules with respect to section 501(c)(3) organizations), and this chapter (other than this section) shall not apply to any foreign organization which has received substantially all of its support (other than gross investment income) from sources outside the United States.
(c)Denial of exemption to foreign organizations engaged in prohibited transactions
(1)General rule
A foreign organization described in subsection (b) shall not be exempt from taxation under section 501(a) if it has engaged in a prohibited transaction after December 31, 1969.
(2)Prohibited transactions
For purposes of this subsection, the term “prohibited transaction” means any act or failure to act (other than with respect to section 4942(e)) which would subject a foreign organization described in subsection (b), or a disqualified person (as defined in section 4946) with respect thereto, to liability for a penalty under section 6684 or a tax under section 507 if such foreign organization were a domestic organization.
(3)Taxable years affected
(A)Except as provided in subparagraph (B), a foreign organization described in subsection (b) shall be denied exemption from taxation under section 501(a) by reason of paragraph (1) for all taxable years beginning with the taxable year during which it is notified by the Secretary that it has engaged in a prohibited transaction. The Secretary shall publish such notice in the Federal Register on the day on which he so notifies such foreign organization.
(B)Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, any foreign organization described in subsection (b) which is denied exemption from taxation under section 501(a) by reason of paragraph (1) may, with respect to the second taxable year following the taxable year in which notice is given under subparagraph (A) (or any taxable year thereafter), file claim for exemption from taxation under section 501(a). If the Secretary is satisfied that such organization will not knowingly again engage in a prohibited transaction, such organization shall not, with respect to taxable years beginning with the taxable year with respect to which such claim is filed, be denied exemption from taxation under section 501(a) by reason of any prohibited transaction which was engaged in before the date on which such notice was given under subparagraph (A).
(4)Disallowance of certain charitable deductions
No gift or bequest shall be allowed as a deduction under section 170, 545(b)(2), 642(c), 2055, 2106(a)(2), or 2522, if made—
(A)to a foreign organization described in subsection (b) after the date on which the Secretary publishes notice under paragraph (3)(A) that he has notified such organization that it has engaged in a prohibited transaction, and
(B)in a taxable year of such organization for which it is not exempt from taxation under section 501(a) by reason of paragraph (1).

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2004—Subsec. (c)(4). Pub. L. 108–357 struck out “556(b)(2),” after “545(b)(2),” in introductory provisions. 1976—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 94–455 struck out “or his delegate” after “Secretary” wherever appearing.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2004 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 108–357 applicable to taxable years of foreign corporations beginning after Dec. 31, 2004, and to taxable years of United States shareholders with or within which such taxable years of foreign corporations end, see section 413(d)(1) of Pub. L. 108–357, set out as an Effective and Termination Dates of 2004

Amendments

note under section 1 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

26 U.S.C. § 4948

Title 26, Internal Revenue Code

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110