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Federal Statute

26 U.S.C. § 6020 — Returns prepared for or executed by Secretary

Section 6020 authorizes the Secretary, when a person fails to make a required return, to prepare a return from the Secretary's own knowledge and from such information as may be obtained through testimony or otherwise, and—when subscribed by such person—to treat it as the return of that person. If the person fails or refuses to subscribe, the Secretary may execute the return; the return so executed is prima facie good and sufficient for all legal purposes.

Citation: 26 U.S.C. § 6020Jurisdiction: United StatesEffective: 1954-08-16

Text

Codified text.

(a) Preparation of return by Secretary.—If any person shall fail to make a return required by this title or by regulations prescribed thereunder, but shall consent to disclose all information necessary for the preparation thereof, then, and in that case, the Secretary may prepare such return, which, being signed by such person, may be received by the Secretary as the return of such person.

Codified text.

(b) Execution of return by Secretary.—

(1) Authority of Secretary to execute return.—If any person fails to make any return required by any internal revenue law or regulation made thereunder at the time prescribed therefor, or makes, willfully or otherwise, a false or fraudulent return, the Secretary shall make such return from his own knowledge and from such information as he can obtain through testimony or otherwise.

(2) Status of returns.—Any return so made and subscribed by the Secretary shall be prima facie good and sufficient for all legal purposes.

Editorial commentary — not part of the primary text.

Editorial note. Source credits are preserved as editorial metadata derived from the official Office of the Law Revision Counsel publication.

Editorial note. Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 740.

Revision history

  • 1954-08-16Enacted as part of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (ch. 736, 68A Stat. 740).
Canonical source: Office of the Law Revision Counsel, United States Code (https://uscode.house.gov).
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