§ 6014. Income tax return—tax not computed by taxpayer

(a) Election by taxpayer

An individual who does not itemize his deductions and who is not described in section 6012(a)(1)(C)(i), whose gross income is less than $10,000 and includes no income other than remuneration for services performed by him as an employee, dividends or interest, and whose gross income other than wages, as defined in section 3401(a), does not exceed $100, shall at his election not be required to show on the return the tax imposed by section 1. Such election shall be made by using the form prescribed for purposes of this section. In such case the tax shall be computed by the Secretary who shall mail to the taxpayer a notice stating the amount determined as payable.

(b) Regulations The Secretary shall prescribe regulations for carrying out this section, and such regulations may provide for the application of the rules of this section—

(1) to cases where the gross income includes items other than those enumerated by subsection (a),

(2) to cases where the gross income from sources other than wages on which the tax has been withheld at the source is more than $100,

(3) to cases where the gross income is $10,000 or more, or

(4) to cases where the taxpayer itemizes his deductions or where the taxpayer claims a reduced standard deduction by reason of section 63(c)(5).

Such regulations shall provide for the application of this section in the case of husband and wife, including provisions determining when a joint return under this section may be permitted or required, whether the liability shall be joint and several, and whether one spouse may make return under this section and the other without regard to this section.

(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 736; Pub. L. 88–272, title II, § 201(d)(14), title III, § 301(b)(2), Feb. 26, 1964, 78 Stat. 32, 140; Pub. L. 91–172, title VIII, § 803(d)(1), title IX, § 942(a), Dec. 30, 1969, 83 Stat. 684, 726; Pub. L. 94–455, title V, §§ 501(b)(8), (9), 503(b)(2), (3), title XIX, § 1906(b)(13)(A), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1559, 1562, 1834; Pub. L. 95–30, title I, § 101(d)(13), (14), May 23, 1977, 91 Stat. 134; Pub. L. 99–514, title I, § 104(b)(16), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2106.)

Amendments

Amendments

1986—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 99–514, § 104(b)(16)(A), substituted “who is not described in section 6012(a)(1)(C)(i)” for “who does not have an unused zero bracket amount (determined under section 63(e))”.

Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 99–514, § 104(b)(16)(B), amended par. (4) generally, substituting “where the taxpayer claims a reduced standard deduction by reason of section 63(c)(5)” for “has an unused zero bracket amount”.

1977—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 95–30, § 101(d)(13), substituted “An individual who does not itemize his deductions and who does not have an unused zero bracket amount (determined under section 63(e)), whose gross income” for “An individual entitled to take the standard deduction provided by section 141 (other than an individual described in section 141(e)) whose gross income” and struck out “and shall constitute an election to take the standard deduction” after “Such election shall be made by using the form prescribed for purposes of this section”.

Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 95–30, § 101(d)(14), substituted “itemizes his deductions or has an unused zero bracket amount” for “does not elect the standard deduction or where the taxpayer elects the standard deduction but is subject to the provision of section 141(e) (relating to limitations in case of certain dependent taxpayers)”.

1976—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 94–455, §§ 501(b)(8), 503(b)(2), 1906(b)(13(A), substituted “entitled to take the standard deduction provided by section 141 (other than an individual described in section 141(e))” for “entitled to elect to pay the tax imposed by section 3” and “take the standard deduction” for “pay the tax imposed by section 3” and struck out provision relating to disallowance of section 37 credit in determination of tax imposed by section 3 of this title, and struck out “or his delegate” after “Secretary”.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 94–455, §§ 501(b)(9), 503(b)(3), 1906(b)(13)(A), struck out an introductory provision, “or his delegate” after “Secretary”, redesignated former par. (5) as (4), and as so redesignated, inserted reference to where the taxpayer elects the standard deduction but is subject to the provisions of section 141(e) (relating to limitations in case of certain dependent taxpayers). Former par. (4), which related to cases where the taxpayer is entitled to credit provided by section 37 of this title, was struck out.

1969—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 91–172, § 803(d)(1), raised the individual gross income limit of $5,000 to $10,000 for exercising the option to pay the tax under section 3 of this title, and struck out provisions relating to heads of household, surviving spouses and married individuals filing separate returns.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 91–172, § 942(a), substituted provisions authorizing the Secretary to promulgate regulations to compute the tax in cases where the gross income is $10,000 or more, where the gross income from sources other than wages on which the tax has been withheld at the source is more than $100, where the taxpayer is entitled to a credit under section 37 of this title, or where the taxpayer does not elect the standard deduction, for provisions authorizing the computation of the tax in cases where the gross income is $5,000 but not more than $5,200, or where the gross income from sources other than wages on which the tax has been withheld at the source is more than $100, but not more than $200.

1964—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 88–272 struck out “34 or” before “37 shall not be allowed”, and inserted provision that in case of a married individual filing a separate return and electing benefits of this subsection, neither Table V in section 3(a) nor Table V in section 3(b) shall apply.

Effective Date Of Amendment

Effective Date of 1986 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 99–514 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1986, see section 151(a) of Pub. L. 99–514, set out as a note under section 1 of this title.

Effective Date of 1977 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 95–30 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1976, see section 106(a) of Pub. L. 95–30, set out as a note under section 1 of this title.

Effective Date of 1969 Amendment

Amendment by section 803(d)(1) of Pub. L. 91–172 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1969, see section 803(f) of Pub. L. 91–172, set out as a note under section 1 of this title.

Pub. L. 91–172, title IX, § 942(b), Dec. 30, 1969, 83 Stat. 727, provided that: “The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1969.”

Effective Date of 1964 Amendment

Amendment by section 201(d)(14) of Pub. L. 88–272 applicable with respect to dividends received after Dec. 31, 1964, in taxable years ending after such date, see section 201(e) of Pub. L. 88–272, set out as a note under section 22 of this title.

Amendment by section 301(b)(2) of Pub. L. 88–272 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1963, except for purpose of section 21, see section 301(c) of Pub. L. 88–272, set out as a note under section 3 of this title.