Title 31, Money and FinanceRelease 119-102

§3104 Certificates of Indebtedness and Treasury Bills

Title 31 › SUBTITLE III — FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT › CHAPTER 31 — PUBLIC DEBT › SUBCHAPTER I — BORROWING AUTHORITY › § 3104

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Treasury Secretary can borrow money for government spending and can buy back or refund government debt. The Secretary may issue certificates of indebtedness and Treasury bills and set rules for how they are sold and when they can be cashed early. They cannot mature more than one year after issue, and the bills can’t be used before maturity to pay principal or interest on foreign governments’ debts held by the United States.

Full Legal Text

Title 31, §3104

Money and Finance, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary of the Treasury may borrow on the credit of the United States Government amounts necessary for expenditures authorized by law and may buy, redeem, and make refunds under section 3111 of this title. For amounts borrowed, the Secretary may issue—
(1)certificates of indebtedness of the Government; and
(2)Treasury bills of the Government.
(b)The Secretary may prescribe conditions for issuing certificates of indebtedness and Treasury bills under section 3121 of this title and conditions under which the certificates and bills may be redeemed before maturity. Notwithstanding section 3121(a)(5) of this title, the payment date of certificates of indebtedness and Treasury bills may not be more than one year after the date of issue.
(c)Treasury bills issued under this section may not be accepted before maturity to pay principal or interest on obligations of governments of foreign countries that are held by the United States Government.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 3104(a)31:754(a)(1st, 2d sentences).Sept. 24, 1917, ch. 56, § 5(a)(less form of certificates of indebtedness and Treasury bills, finality), 40 Stat. 290; Apr. 4, 1918, ch. 44, § 4, 40 Stat. 504; Mar. 3, 1919, ch. 100, § 3, 40 Stat. 1311; restated June 17, 1929, ch. 26, 46 Stat. 19; Feb. 4, 1935, ch. 5, §§ 2, 3, 49 Stat. 20. 3104(b)31:754(a)(3d sentence)(less form of certificates of indebtedness and Treasury bills, finality). 3104(c)31:754(a)(last sentence). In subsection (a), before clause (1), the words “In addition to the bonds and notes authorized by section 752, 753, and 757c of this title” are omitted as unnecessary. The words “subject to the limitation imposed by section 757b of this title” are omitted as surplus. The words “for expenditures authorized by law” are substituted for “for the purposes of this Act . . . and to meet public expenditures authorized by law” for clarity and because they are inclusive. The words “under section 3111 of this title” are substituted for “at or before maturity, of any outstanding bonds, notes, certificates of indebtedness or Treasury bills of the United States” because of the restatement. The words “at not less than par” are omitted as superseded by section 3 of the Public Debt Act of 1942 (ch. 205, 56 Stat. 189), restated in section 3121 of the revised title. The text of 31:754(a)(2d sentence) is omitted as superseded by section 3121(a) of the revised title. In clause (1), the words “and at such rate or rates of interest, payable at such time or times as he may prescribe” are omitted because they are superseded by section 3121(a), (b)(1), and (c) of the revised title. In clause (2), the words “on a discount basis and payable at maturity without interest” are omitted because they are superseded by section 3121(a) of the revised title. The words “of the Government” are added for consistency. In subsection (b), the words “terms and” after “upon such” are omitted as surplus. The words “for issuing . . . under section 3121 of this title” are substituted for “subject to such terms and conditions” because of the restatement. The words “Notwithstanding section 3121(a)(5) of this title” are substituted for “shall be payable at such time” for clarity because the section cited contains the general authority to which subsection (c)(last sentence) of this section is an exception. In subsection (c), the words “account of” are omitted as surplus.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

31 U.S.C. § 3104

Title 31, Money and Finance

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102