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Title 26, Internal Revenue CodeRelease 119-110

§6050N Returns Regarding Payments of Royalties

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 › § 6050N

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

You must report royalty payments of $10 or more. Anyone who pays royalties (or similar amounts) totaling $10 or more to another person in a calendar year must file a report on the forms the IRS provides. If you got royalties as a nominee and then paid $10 or more to someone else from those royalties, you must also file. The report must show the total amount paid and the name and address of the person who got the money. You must give each payee a written statement that shows your contact name, address, and phone number, and the total amount they were paid. That statement must be given in person or mailed by first-class mail and received by January 31 following the year of the payments. The IRS sets the exact form and rules. The rule does not apply to payments to certain persons listed in section 6049(b)(4)(A)–(F).

Full Legal Text

Title 26, §6050N

Internal Revenue Code, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Requirement of reporting
Every person—
(1)who makes payments of royalties (or similar amounts) aggregating $10 or more to any other person during any calendar year, or
(2)who receives payments of royalties (or similar amounts) as a nominee and who makes payments aggregating $10 or more during any calendar year to any other person with respect to the royalties (or similar amounts) so received,
shall make a return according to the forms or regulations prescribed by the Secretary, setting forth the aggregate amount of such payments and the name and address of the person to whom paid.
(b)Statements to be furnished to persons with respect to whom information is furnished
Every person required to make a return under subsection (a) 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, and
(2)the aggregate amount of payments to the person required to be shown on such return.
The written statement required under the preceding sentence shall be furnished (either in person or in a statement mailing by first-class mail which includes adequate notice that the statement is enclosed) to the person on or before January 31 of the year following the calendar year for which the return under subsection (a) was made and shall be in such form as the Secretary may prescribe by regulations.
(c)Exception for payments to certain persons
Except to the extent otherwise provided in regulations, this section shall not apply to any amount paid to a person described in subparagraph (A), (B), (C), (D), (E), or (F) of section 6049(b)(4).

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1996—Subsec. (b)(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 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. 99–514, title XV, § 1523(d), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2749, provided that: “The

Amendments

made by this section [enacting this section and amending section 3406, 6041, and 6676 of this title] shall apply with respect to payments made after December 31, 1986.”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

26 U.S.C. § 6050N

Title 26, Internal Revenue Code

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110