Title 7, AgricultureRelease 119-102

§620 Falsely Ascribing Deductions or Charges to Taxes; Penalty

Title 7 › CHAPTER 26 — AGRICULTURAL ADJUSTMENT › SUBCHAPTER III — COMMODITY BENEFITS › § 620

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

Makes it a crime to say, in writing or out loud, that part of a price, fee, or deduction is a tax under this chapter when you know that is untrue or that the real tax is smaller than the amount you claim. This rule applies when buying or offering to buy a taxed commodity, when processing it (commercially, for toll, on an exchange, or similar), or when settling contracts to buy or sell the commodity or its products. Conviction is a misdemeanor punishable by up to $1,000 fine, up to six months in jail, or both.

Full Legal Text

Title 7, §620

Agriculture, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Whoever in connection with the purchase of, or offer to purchase, any commodity, subject to any tax under this chapter, or which is to be subjected to any tax under this chapter, makes any statement, written or oral, (1) intended or calculated to lead any person to believe that any amount deducted from the market price or the agreed price of the commodity consists of a tax imposed under this chapter, or (2) ascribing a particular part of the deduction from the market price or the agreed price of the commodity, to a tax imposed under this chapter, knowing that such statement is false or that the tax is not so great as the amount deducted from the market price or the agreed price of the commodity, ascribed to such tax, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not more than $1,000 or by imprisonment for not exceeding six months, or both.
(b)Whoever in connection with the processing of any commodity subject to any tax under this chapter, whether commercially, for toll, upon an exchange, or otherwise, makes any statement, written or oral, (1) intended or calculated to lead any person to believe that any part of the charge for said processing, whether commercially, for toll, upon an exchange, or otherwise, consists of a tax imposed under this chapter, or (2) ascribing a particular part of the charge for processing, whether commercially, for toll, upon an exchange, or otherwise, to a tax imposed under this chapter, knowing that such statement is false, or that the tax is not so great as the amount charged for said processing ascribed to such tax, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not more than $1,000 or by imprisonment for not exceeding six months, or both.
(c)Whoever in connection with any settlement, under a contract to buy any commodity, and/or to sell such commodity, or any product or byproduct thereof, subject to any tax under this chapter, makes any statement, written or oral, (1) intended or calculated to lead any person to believe that any amount deducted from the gross sales price, in arriving at the basis of settlement under the contract, consists of a tax under this chapter, or (2) ascribing a particular amount deducted from the gross sales price, in arriving at the basis of settlement under the contract, to a tax imposed under this chapter, knowing that such statement is false, or that the tax is not so great as the amount so deducted and/or ascribed to such tax, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not more than $1,000 or by imprisonment for not exceeding six months, or both.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

ConstitutionalityUnconstitutionality of processing and floor stock taxes, see note set out under section 616 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

7 U.S.C. § 620

Title 7, Agriculture

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102