Subpart G - General Provisions

26 USC 5141 - Registration

For provisions relating to registration in the case of persons engaged in any trade or business on which a special tax is imposed, see section 7011 (a).

26 USC 5142 - Payment of tax

(a) Condition precedent to carrying on business 
No person shall be engaged in or carry on any trade or business subject to tax under this part (except the tax imposed by section 5131) until he has paid the special tax therefor.
(b) Computation 
All special taxes under this part (except the tax imposed by section 5131) shall be imposed as of on the first day of July in each year, or on commencing any trade or business on which such tax is imposed. In the former case the tax shall be reckoned for 1 year, and in the latter case it shall be reckoned proportionately, from the first day of the month in which the liability to a special tax commenced, to and including the 30th day of June following.
(c) How paid 

(1) Payment by return 
The special taxes imposed by this part shall be paid on the basis of a return under such regulations as the Secretary shall prescribe.
(2) Stamp denoting payment of tax 
After receiving a properly executed return and remittance of any special tax imposed by this subpart, the Secretary shall issue to the taxpayer an appropriate stamp as a receipt denoting payment of the tax. This paragraph shall not apply in the case of a return covering liability for a past period.

26 USC 5143 - Provisions relating to liability for occupational taxes

(a) Partners 
Any number of persons doing business in partnership at any one place shall be required to pay but one special tax.
(b) Different businesses of same ownership and location 
Whenever more than one of the pursuits or occupations described in this part are carried on in the same place by the same person at the same time, except as otherwise provided in this part, the tax shall be paid for each according to the rates severally prescribed.
(c) Businesses in more than one location 

(1) Liability for tax 
The payment of a special tax imposed by this part shall not exempt from an additional special tax the person carrying on a trade or business in any other place than that stated in the register kept in the office of the official in charge of the internal revenue district.
(2) Storage 
Nothing contained in paragraph (1) shall require a special tax for the storage of liquors at a location other than the place where liquors are sold or offered for sale.
(3) Definition of place 
The term place as used in this section means the entire office, plant or area of the business in any one location under the same proprietorship; and passageways, streets, highways, rail crossings, waterways, or partitions dividing the premises, shall not be deemed sufficient separation to require additional special tax, if the various divisions are otherwise contiguous.
(d) Death or change of location 
Certain persons, other than the person who has paid the special tax under this part for the carrying on of any business at any place, may secure the right to carry on, without incurring additional special tax, the same business at the same place for the remainder of the taxable period for which the special tax was paid. The persons who may secure such right are:
(1) the surviving spouse or child, or executor or administrator or other legal representative, of a deceased taxpayer;
(2) a husband or wife succeeding to the business of his or her living spouse;
(3) a receiver or trustee in bankruptcy, or an assignee for benefit of creditors; and
(4) the partner or partners remaining after death or withdrawal of a member of a partnership.

When any person moves to any place other than the place for which special tax was paid for the carrying on of any business, he may secure the right to carry on, without incurring additional special tax, the same business at his new location for the remainder of the taxable period for which the special tax was paid. To secure the right to carry on the business without incurring additional special tax, the successor, or the person relocating his business, must register the succession or relocation with the Secretary in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary.

(e) Federal agencies or instrumentalities 
Any tax imposed by this part shall apply to any agency or instrumentality of the United States unless such agency or instrumentality is granted by statute a specific exemption from such tax.

26 USC 5144 - Repealed. Pub. L. 94455, title XIX, 1905(b)(3)(D)(i), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1822]

Section, added Pub. L. 85–859, title II, § 201, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1348, authorized and directed Secretary or his delegate to procure the necessary stamps for payment of special taxes and to make needful regulations relative thereto. A prior section 5144, act Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 624, related to liability for occupational taxes, prior to the general revision of this chapter by Pub. L. 85–859. See sections 5113 (a) and 5143 of this title.

26 USC 5145 - Application of State laws

The payment of any tax imposed by this part for carrying on any trade or business shall not be held to exempt any person from any penalty or punishment provided by the laws of any State for carrying on such trade or business within such State, or in any manner to authorize the commencement or continuance of such trade or business contrary to the laws of such State or in places prohibited by municipal law; nor shall the payment of any such tax be held to prohibit any State from placing a duty or tax on the same trade or business, for State or other purposes.

26 USC 5146 - Preservation and inspection of records, and entry of premises for inspection

(a) Preservation and inspection of records 
Any records or other documents required to be kept under this part or regulations issued pursuant thereto shall be preserved by the person required to keep such records or documents, as the Secretary may by regulations prescribe, and shall be kept available for inspection by any internal revenue officer during business hours.
(b) Entry of premises for inspection 
The Secretary may enter during business hours the premises (including places of storage) of any dealer for the purpose of inspecting or examining any records or other documents required to be kept by such dealer under this chapter or regulations issued pursuant thereto and any distilled spirits, wines, or beer kept or stored by such dealer on such premises.

26 USC 5147 - Application of subpart

The provisions of this subpart shall extend to and apply to the special taxes imposed by the other subparts of this part and to the persons on whom such taxes are imposed.

26 USC 5148 - Suspension of occupational tax

(a) In general 
Notwithstanding sections 5081, 5091, 5111, 5121, and 5131, the rate of tax imposed under such sections for the suspension period shall be zero. During such period, persons engaged in or carrying on a trade or business covered by such sections shall register under section 5141 and shall comply with the recordkeeping requirements under this part.
(b) Suspension period 
For purposes of subsection (a), the suspension period is the period beginning on July 1, 2005, and ending on June 30, 2008.

26 USC 5149 - Cross references

(1) For penalties for willful nonpayment of special taxes, see section 5691.
(2) For penalties applicable to this part generally, see subchapter J.
(3) For penalties, authority for assessments, and other general and administrative provisions applicable to this part, see subtitle F.