§5203 — Title 26 Internal Revenue Code | U.S. Code

Summary

If you run a distilled spirits plant, you must give the government keys so revenue officers can get onto the premises, and the property must always stay accessible to officers holding those keys. Officers may enter at any time, day or night, to examine materials, equipment, and facilities and to measure and count the spirits. If an officer announces his name and office and is refused entry, he may use force to get in. On demand, you must help officers gauge the spirits in any container and open all doors, boxes, packages, casks, barrels, and other vessels for examination. Officers may even break up the ground, walls, or partitions at or near the plant to search for hidden pipes or secret conveyances that could carry spirits, mash, wort, or beer out of view. Violating these rules carries a penalty under a separate section.

Title 26, §5203

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(a)Every proprietor of a distilled spirits plant shall furnish the Secretary such keys as may be required for internal revenue officers to gain access to the premises and any structures thereon, and such premises shall always be kept accessible to any officer having such keys.

(b)It shall be lawful for any internal revenue officer at all times, as well by night as by day, to enter any distilled spirits plant, or any other premises where distilled spirits operations are carried on, or structure or place used in connection therewith for storage or other purposes; to make examination of the materials, equipment, and facilities thereon; and make such gauges and inventories as he deems necessary. Whenever any officer, having demanded admittance, and having declared his name and office, is not admitted into such premises by the proprietor or other person having charge thereof, it shall be lawful for such officer, at all times, as well by night as by day, to use such force as is necessary for him to gain entry to such premises.

(c)On the demand of any internal revenue officer or agent, every proprietor of a distilled spirits plant shall furnish the necessary facilities and assistance to enable the officer or agent to gauge the spirits in any container or to examine any apparatus, equipment, containers, or materials on such premises. Such proprietor shall also, on demand of such officer or agent, open all doors, and open for examination all boxes, packages, and all casks, barrels, and other vessels on such premises.

(d)It shall be lawful for any internal revenue officer, and any person acting in his aid, to break up the ground on any part of a distilled spirits plant or any other premises where distilled spirits operations are carried on, or any ground adjoining or near to such plant or premises, or any wall or partition thereof, or belonging thereto, or other place, to search for any pipe, cock, private conveyance, or utensil; and, upon finding any such pipe or conveyance leading therefrom or thereto, to break up any ground, house, wall, or other place through or into which such pipe or other conveyance leads, and to break or cut away such pipe or other conveyance, and turn any cock, or to examine whether such pipe or other conveyance conveys or conceals any distilled spirits, mash, wort, or beer, or other liquor, from the sight or view of the officer, so as to prevent or hinder him from taking a true account thereof.

(e)For penalty for violation of this section, see section 5687.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those comprising this section were contained in prior sections of act Aug. 16, 1954, prior to the general revision of this chapter by Pub. L. 85–859, as follows: Present subsecs.:Prior sections (a)5196(a). (b)5196(b), (e). (c)5196(c), (e), 5283, 5615. (d)5196(d), 5283. (e)5615, 5687. The prior sections, act Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, are set out in 68A Stat. 636, 652, 686, 700.

Amendments

1979—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 96–39, § 807(a)(22)(A), substituted “where distilled spirits operations are carried on” for “where distilled spirits are produced or rectified”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 96–39, § 807(a)(22)(B), substituted “on such premises” for “not under the control of the internal revenue officer in charge”. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 96–39, § 807(a)(22)(C), substituted “where distilled spirits operations are carried on” for “where distilled spirits are produced or rectified”. 1976—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 94–455 struck out “or his delegate” after “Secretary”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1979 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 96–39 effective Jan. 1, 1980, see section 810 of Pub. L. 96–39, set out as a note under section 5001 of this title.

§5203 Entry and Examination of Premises