Title 26, Internal Revenue CodeRelease 119-110
§6041A Returns Regarding Payments of Remuneration for Services and Direct Sales
Title 26 › Subtitle F — Procedure and Administration › CHAPTER 61 — INFORMATION AND RETURNS › Subchapter A — Returns and Records › PART III — INFORMATION RETURNS › Subpart B — Information Concerning Transactions With Other Persons › § 6041A
Summary
Businesses must tell the IRS when they pay someone for services and the total for the year meets or exceeds the dollar threshold in section 6041(a). They must report the total paid, the person’s name and address, and separately show any amounts reasonably called cash tips and the recipient’s occupation (as in section 224(d)(1)). If a business sells consumer products for resale outside a regular store on a buy-sell, deposit-commission, or similar basis and the buyer buys $5,000 or more in a year, the seller must report the buyer’s name and address. Government units count as “persons,” and government payers must file even if not running a trade or business; the official who controls the payment must make the return. Federal executive agencies must report payments to corporations unless the payments fall under the exceptions in section 6050M(e)(3) when 6050M(e)(2) applies, or other exceptions the Secretary creates. Anyone who is reported must get a written statement by January 31 of the year after the payments. That statement must give the payer’s contact info, the total paid, and the cash-tip amount and occupation when required. People who will be reported must give their name, address, and identification number when asked, and the payer must include that ID on the return.
Full Legal Text
Title 26, §6041A
Internal Revenue Code, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Returns regarding remuneration for services
If—
(1)any service-recipient engaged in a trade or business pays in the course of such trade or business during any calendar year remuneration to any person for services performed by such person, and
(2)the aggregate of such remuneration paid to such person during such calendar year equals or exceeds the dollar amount in effect for such calendar year under section 6041(a),
then the service-recipient shall make a return, according to the forms or regulations prescribed by the Secretary, setting forth the aggregate amount of such payments (including a separate accounting of any such amounts reasonably designated as cash tips and the occupation described in section 224(d)(1) of the person receiving such tips) and the name and address of the recipient of such payments. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the term “service-recipient” means the person for whom the service is performed.
(b)Direct sales of $5,000 or more
(1)In general
If—
(A)any person engaged in a trade or business in the course of such trade or business during any calendar year sells consumer products to any buyer on a buy-sell basis, a deposit-commission basis, or any similar basis which the Secretary prescribes by regulations, for resale (by the buyer or any other person) in the home or otherwise than in a permanent retail establishment, and
(B)the aggregate amount of the sales to such buyer during such calendar year is $5,000 or more,
then such person shall make a return, according to the forms or regulations prescribed by the Secretary, setting forth the name and address of the buyer to whom such sales are made.
(2)Definitions
For purposes of paragraph (1)—
(A)Buy-sell basis
A transaction is on a buy-sell basis if the buyer performing the services is entitled to retain part or all of the difference between the price at which the buyer purchases the product and the price at which the buyer sells the product as part or all of the buyer’s remuneration for the services, and
(B)Deposit-commission basis
A transaction is on a deposit-commission basis if the buyer performing the services is entitled to retain part or all of a purchase deposit paid by the consumer in connection with the transaction as part or all of the buyer’s remuneration for the services.
(c)Certain services not included
No return shall be required under subsection (a) or (b) if a statement with respect to the services is required to be furnished under section 6051, 6052, or 6053.
(d)Applications to governmental units
(1)Treated as persons
The term “person” includes any governmental unit (and any agency or instrumentality thereof).
(2)Special rules
In the case of any payment by a governmental entity or any agency or instrumentality thereof— (A)
(B)any return under this section shall be made by the officer or employee having control of the payment or appropriately designated for the purpose of making such return.
(3)Payments to corporations by Federal executive agencies
(A)In general
Notwithstanding any regulation prescribed by the Secretary before the date of the enactment of this paragraph, subsection (a) shall apply to remuneration paid to a corporation by any Federal executive agency (as defined in section 6050M(b)).
(B)Exception
Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to—
(i)services under contracts described in section 6050M(e)(3) with respect to which the requirements of section 6050M(e)(2) are met, and
(ii)such other services as the Secretary may specify in regulations prescribed after the date of the enactment of this paragraph.
(e)Statements to be furnished to persons with respect to whom information is required to be furnished
Every person required to make a return under subsection (a) or (b) shall furnish to each person whose name is required to be set forth in such return a written statement showing—
(1)the name, address, and phone number of the information contact of the person required to make such return,
(2)in the case of subsection (a), the aggregate amount of payments to the person required to be shown on such return, and
(3)in the case of subsection (a), the portion of payments that have been reasonably designated as cash tips and the occupation described in section 224(d)(1) of the person receiving such tips.
The written statement required under the preceding sentence shall be furnished to the person on or before January 31 of the year following the calendar year for which the return under subsection (a) was made.
(f)Recipient to furnish name, address, and identification number; inclusion on return
(1)Furnishing of information
Any person with respect to whom a return or statement is required under this section to be made by another person shall furnish to such other person his name, address, and identification number at such time and in such manner as the Secretary may prescribe by regulations.
(2)Inclusion on return
The person to whom an identification number is furnished under paragraph (1) shall include such number on any return which such person is required to file under this section and to which such identification number relates.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The date of the enactment of this paragraph, referred to in subsec. (d)(3), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 105–34, which was approved Aug. 5, 1997.
Amendments
2025—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 119–21, § 70201(f)(2)(A), inserted “(including a separate accounting of any such amounts reasonably designated as cash tips and the occupation described in section 224(d)(1) of the person receiving such tips)” after “amount of such payments” in concluding provisions. Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 119–21, § 70433(c), substituted “equals or exceeds the dollar amount in effect for such calendar year under section 6041(a)” for “is $600 or more”. Subsec. (e)(3). Pub. L. 119–21, § 70201(f)(2)(B), added par. (3). 1997—Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 105–34 added par. (3). 1996—Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 104–168 substituted “name, address, and phone number of the information contact” for “name and address”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 2025 AmendmentAmendment by section 70201(f)(2) of Pub. L. 119–21 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 2024, see section 70201(j) of Pub. L. 119–21, set out as a note under section 45B of this title. Amendment by section 70433(c) of Pub. L. 119–21 applicable with respect to payments made after Dec. 31, 2025, see section 70433(f) of Pub. L. 119–21, set out as a note under section 3406 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1997 Amendment Pub. L. 105–34, title X, § 1022(b), Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 923, provided that: “The amendment made by this section [amending this section] shall apply to returns the due date for which (determined without regard to any extension) is more than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Aug. 5, 1997].”
Effective Date
of 1996 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 104–168 applicable to statements required to be furnished after Dec. 31, 1996 (determined without regard to any extension), see section 1201(b) of Pub. L. 104–168, set out as a note under section 6041 of this title.
Effective Date
Pub. L. 97–248, title III, § 312(c), Sept. 3, 1982, 96 Stat. 603, provided that: “The
Amendments
made by this section [enacting this section and amending section 6678 of this title] shall apply to payments and sales made after December 31, 1982.”
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
26 U.S.C. § 6041A
Title 26, Internal Revenue Code
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110