republic-os/legal/us/code/title-26/chapter-42/section-4944.md

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LegalText	26 U.S.C. § 4944	Taxes on investments which jeopardize charitable purpose	us	united_states_code	code_section	26	INTERNAL REVENUE CODE	42	PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS; AND CERTAIN OTHER TAX-EXEMPT ORGANIZATIONS	4944	26 U.S.C. § 4944	current	119-100	2026-06-26	official	https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc26@119-100.zip	/us/usc/t26/s4944	data/legal/raw/us/code/title-26/usc26.xml	115c9e1209e4957471cc6de573c1890822666507a65563e3bbe8dfafdee2a851	a261f094809116f42a96648a3d5eee80fa010379d67412551c21dd5c900b27f4	0bf0f20c62c31fe3370c7bb40c3a590d8ae0bebcb557c7fbbcdc421692635275	2026-07-04	official	legal us-code

26 U.S.C. § 4944 - Taxes on investments which jeopardize charitable purpose

Text

(a) Initial taxes (1) On the private foundation If a private foundation invests any amount in such a manner as to jeopardize the carrying out of any of its exempt purposes, there is hereby imposed on the making of such investment a tax equal to 10 percent of the amount so invested for each year (or part thereof) in the taxable period. The tax imposed by this paragraph shall be paid by the private foundation.

(2) On the management In any case in which a tax is imposed by paragraph (1), there is hereby imposed on the participation of any foundation manager in the making of the investment, knowing that it is jeopardizing the carrying out of any of the foundation’s exempt purposes, a tax equal to 10 percent of the amount so invested for each year (or part thereof) in the taxable period, unless such participation is not willful and is due to reasonable cause. The tax imposed by this paragraph shall be paid by any foundation manager who participated in the making of the investment.

(b) Additional taxes (1) On the foundation In any case in which an initial tax is imposed by subsection (a)(1) on the making of an investment and such investment is not removed from jeopardy within the taxable period, there is hereby imposed a tax equal to 25 percent of the amount of the investment. The tax imposed by this paragraph shall be paid by the private foundation.

(2) On the management In any case in which an additional tax is imposed by paragraph (1), if a foundation manager refused to agree to part or all of the removal from jeopardy, there is hereby imposed a tax equal to 5 percent of the amount of the investment. The tax imposed by this paragraph shall be paid by any foundation manager who refused to agree to part or all of the removal from jeopardy.

(c) Exception for program-related investments For purposes of this section, investments, the primary purpose of which is to accomplish one or more of the purposes described in section 170(c)(2)(B), and no significant purpose of which is the production of income or the appreciation of property, shall not be considered as investments which jeopardize the carrying out of exempt purposes.

(d) Special rules For purposes of subsections (a) and (b)—

(1) Joint and several liability If more than one person is liable under subsection (a)(2) or (b)(2) with respect to any one investment, all such persons shall be jointly and severally liable under such paragraph with respect to such investment.

(2) Limit for management With respect to any one investment, the maximum amount of the tax imposed by subsection (a)(2) shall not exceed $10,000, and the maximum amount of the tax imposed by subsection (b)(2) shall not exceed $20,000.

(e) Definitions For purposes of this section—

(1) Taxable period The term “taxable period” means, with respect to any investment which jeopardizes the carrying out of exempt purposes, the period beginning with the date on which the amount is so invested and ending on the earliest of—

(A) the date of mailing of a notice of deficiency with respect to the tax imposed by subsection (a)(1) under section 6212,

(B) the date on which the tax imposed by subsection (a)(1) is assessed, or

(C) the date on which the amount so invested is removed from jeopardy.

(2) Removal from jeopardy An investment which jeopardizes the carrying out of exempt purposes shall be considered to be removed from jeopardy when such investment is sold or otherwise disposed of, and the proceeds of such sale or other disposition are not investments which jeopardize the carrying out of exempt purposes.

(Added Pub. L. 91–172, title I, § 101(b), Dec. 30, 1969, 83 Stat. 511; amended Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, § 1906(b)(13)(A), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1834; Pub. L. 96–596, § 2(a)(1)(E), (2)(D), (3)(D), Dec. 24, 1980, 94 Stat. 3469–3471; Pub. L. 109–280, title XII, § 1212(d), Aug. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 1074.)

Notes

Editorial Notes

Codification Section 1212(d) of Pub. L. 109–280, which directed the amendment of section 4944 without specifying the act to be amended, was executed to this section, which is section 4944 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, to reflect the probable intent of Congress. See 2006 Amendment notes below.

Amendments2006—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 109–280, § 1212(d)(1), substituted “10 percent” for “5 percent” in pars. (1) and (2). See Codification note above. Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 109–280, § 1212(d)(2), substituted “$10,000,” for “$5,000,” and “$20,000.” for “$10,000.” See Codification note above. 1980—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 96–596, § 2(a)(1)(E), substituted “taxable period” for “correction period”. Subsec. (e)(1)(B), (C). Pub. L. 96–596, § 2(a)(2)(D), added subpar. (B) and redesignated former subpar. (B) as (C). Subsec. (e)(3). Pub. L. 96–596, § 2(a)(3)(D), struck out par. (3), which defined correction period, with respect to any investment which jeopardizes the carrying out of exempt purposes, as the period beginning with the date on which such investment is entered into and ending 90 days after the date of mailing of a notice of deficiency with respect to the tax imposed by subsec. (b)(1) of this section under section 6212 of this title, extended by any period in which a deficiency cannot be assessed under section 6213(a) of this title and any other period which the Secretary determines is reasonable and necessary to bring about removal from jeopardy. 1976—Subsec. (e)(3)(B). Pub. L. 94–455 struck out “or his delegate” after “Secretary”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2006 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 109–280 applicable to taxable years beginning after Aug. 17, 2006, see section 1212(f) of Pub. L. 109–280, set out as a note under section 4941 of this title.

Effective Date of 1980 AmendmentFor effective date of amendment by Pub. L. 96–596 with respect to any first tier tax and to any second tier tax, see section 2(d) of Pub. L. 96–596, set out as an Effective Date note under section 4961 of this title.