Chapter 31. RETAIL EXCISE TAXES  

The provisions of a prior chapter 31, Miscellaneous Excise Taxes, were set out as:

Subchapter (A), Jewelry and related items, comprising sections 4001 to 4003;

Subchapter (B), Furs, comprising sections 4011 to 4013;

Subchapter (C), Toilet preparations, comprising sections 4021 and 4022;

Subchapter (D), Luggage, handbags, etc., comprising section 4031;

Subchapter (E), Special fuels, comprising sections 4041 and 4042; and

Subchapter (F), Special provisions applicable to retailers tax, comprising sections 4051 to 4058.

The headings for subchs. (A) to (D) were struck out by section 101(b)(1) and the listed sections were repealed by section 101(a) of Pub. L. 89–44, title I, June 21, 1965, 79 Stat. 136, the Excise Tax Reduction Act of 1965, applicable with respect to articles sold on or after June 22, 1965, as provided in section 701(a) of Pub. L. 89–44, set out as an Effective Date of 1965 Amendment note under section 4161 of this title.

The headings for subchs. (E) and (F) were stricken by section 1904(a)(1)(A) of Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1810, the Tax Reform Act of 1976. Sections 4051 to 4053 were repealed by section 101(b)(2) of Pub. L. 89–44, title I, June 21, 1965, 79 Stat. 136, applicable with respect to articles sold on or after June 22, 1965, as provided in section 701(a) of Pub. L. 89–44, set out as an Effective Date of 1965 Amendment note under section 4061 of this title; and sections 4042 and 4054 to 4058 were repealed by section 1904(a)(1)(D) of Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1811, effective Feb. 1, 1977, as provided in section 1904(d) of Pub. L. 94–455, set out as an Effective Date of 1976 Amendment note under section 4041 of this title.

The subject matter of the prior sections was as follows:

A prior section 4001, acts Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 473; Sept. 2, 1958, Pub. L. 85–859, title I, § 101, 72 Stat. 1275; Sept. 21, 1959, Pub. L. 86–344, § 1(a), 73 Stat. 617, imposed an excise tax equivalent to 10 percent of selling price upon jewelry, stones, watches, clocks, case and movements for watches and clocks, flatware and hollow ware, opera glasses, lorgnettes, marine glasses, field glasses, and binoculars.

A prior section 4002, act Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 473, defined “articles sold at retail” to include articles sold at auction.

A prior section 4003, acts Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 474; Sept. 2, 1958, Pub. L. 85–859, title I, § 102, 72 Stat. 1276, specified exemptions to tax imposed by section 4001.

A prior section 4011, act Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 475, imposed an excise tax equivalent to 10 percent of selling price upon fur articles.

A prior section 4012, act Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 475, defined “article sold at retail” to include articles manufactured from material supplied by customer and articles sold at auction.

A prior section 4013, act Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 475, specified exemptions to tax imposed by section 4011.

A prior section 4021, acts Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 476; Apr. 8, 1960, Pub. L. 86–413, § 1, 74 Stat. 31, imposed an excise tax equivalent to 10 percent of selling price upon toilet preparations.

A prior section 4022, act Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 476, specified certain exemptions from tax imposed by section 4021, including items for babies, items used in barber shops and beauty parlors, and miniature samples.

A prior section 4031, acts Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 477; Sept. 2, 1958, Pub. L. 85–859, title I, § 103, 72 Stat. 1276, imposed an excise tax equivalent to 10 percent of selling price upon luggage and handbags, including billfolds and wallets, traveler’s garment bags, and briefcases.

A prior section 4042, act Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 478, provided a cross reference to section 4222 for exemption from tax where special motor fuels are sold for use for certain vessels.

A prior section 4051, act Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 479, defined price for which articles were sold for purposes of determining retailers excise taxes.

A prior section 4052, act Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 479, provided that lease of an article would be considered sale of article for excise tax purposes.

A prior section 4053, acts Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 479; Sept. 2, 1958, Pub. L. 85–859, title I, § 104, 72 Stat. 1276, made provision for imposition of retailers tax on installment sales.

A prior section 4054, act Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 479, related to application of taxes to retail sales by United States or by any agency or instrumentality of United States unless specifically exempted from such tax.

A prior section 4055, act Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 480; June 21, 1965, Pub. L. 89–44, title I, § 101(b)(3), 79 Stat. 136, exempted from taxes articles sold for exclusive use of any State, Territory of United States, or any political subdivision thereof, or District of Columbia, including use by such entities of any liquid as a fuel.

A prior section 4056, act Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 480, provided that no tax shall be imposed upon sale of any article for export, or for shipment to a possession of United States and in due course so shipped and exported.

A prior section 4057, added Pub. L. 85–859, title I, § 105(a), Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1277; amended Pub. L. 86–344, § 2(a), Sept. 21, 1959, 73 Stat. 617; Pub. L. 89–44, title I, § 101(b)(4), June 21, 1965, 79 Stat. 136; Pub. L. 91–172, title I, § 101(j)(25), Dec. 30, 1969, 83 Stat. 528, provided an exception with respect to sale of any article to a non-profit educational organization for its exclusive use including use of any liquid as a fuel and defined “non-profit educational organization”.

A prior section 4058, act Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 480, § 4058, formerly 4057; renumbered Sept. 2, 1958, Pub. L. 85–859, title I, § 105(a), 72 Stat. 1277, related to cross references for exemption of sales to United States in certain cases and administrative provisions of general application.

1993—Pub. L. 103–66, title XIII, § 13161(b)(3), Aug. 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 453, substituted “Luxury passenger vehicles” for “Certain luxury items” in item for subchapter A.

1990—Pub. L. 101–508, title XI, § 11221(e), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–444, added item for subchapter A and redesignated former items for subchapters A and B as B and C, respectively.

1983—Pub. L. 97–424, title V, § 512(b)(2)(A), Jan. 6, 1983, 96 Stat. 2177, substituted “Retail Excise Taxes” for “Special Fuels” in chapter heading, and added an analysis for subchapters A and B.

1976—Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, § 1904(a)(1)(A), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1810, substituted “Special Fuels” for “Retailers Excise Taxes” in chapter heading.