US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

26 U.S.C. § 6157

Payment of Federal unemployment tax on quarterly or other time period basis

(a)

General rule

Every person who for the calendar year is an employer (as defined in section 3306(a)) shall—
(1)
if the person is such an employer for the preceding calendar year (determined by only taking into account wages paid and employment during such preceding calendar year), compute the tax imposed by section 3301 for each of the first 3 calendar quarters in the calendar year on wages paid for services with respect to which the person is such an employer for such preceding calendar year (as so determined), and
(2)
if the person is not such an employer for the preceding calendar year with respect to any services (as so determined), compute the tax imposed by section 3301 on wages paid for services with respect to which the person is not such an employer for the preceding calendar year (as so determined)—
(A)
for the period beginning with the first day of the calendar year and ending with the last day of the calendar quarter (excluding the last calendar quarter) in which such person becomes such an employer with respect to such services, and
(B)
for the third calendar quarter of such year, if the period specified in subparagraph (A) includes only the first two calendar quarters of the calendar year.
The tax for any calendar quarter or other period shall be computed as provided in subsection (b) and the tax as so computed shall, except as otherwise provided in subsection (c), be paid in such manner and at such time as may be provided in regulations prescribed by the Secretary.
(b)

Computation of tax

The tax for any calendar quarter or other period referred to in paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (a) shall be computed by multiplying the amount of wages (as defined in section 3306(b)) paid in such calendar quarter or other period by 0.6 percent. In the case of wages paid in any calendar quarter or other period during a calendar year to which paragraph (1) of section 3301 applies, the amount of such wages shall be multiplied by 0.8 percent in lieu of 0.6 percent.

(c)

Special rule where accumulated amount does not exceed $100

Nothing in this section shall require the payment of tax with respect to any calendar quarter or other period if the tax under section 3301 for such period, plus any unpaid amounts for prior periods in the calendar year, does not exceed $100.

Pub. L. 91–53, § 2(a)83 Stat. 91Pub. L. 91–373, title I, § 101(b)(1)84 Stat. 696Pub. L. 92–329, § 2(b)86 Stat. 398Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, § 1906(a)(11)90 Stat. 1825Pub. L. 94–566, title I, § 114(b)90 Stat. 2669Pub. L. 97–248, title II, § 271(b)(2)(C)96 Stat. 555Pub. L. 98–76, title II, § 231(b)(1)97 Stat. 428Pub. L. 100–647, title VII, § 7106(c)(1)102 Stat. 3773Pub. L. 101–239, title VII, § 7841(d)(12)103 Stat. 2428(Added , , ; amended , (2), , ; , , ; , (b)(13)(A), , , 1834; , title II, § 211(e)(3) [(c)(3)], , , 2677; , (c)(3)(C), , ; , , ; , , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

act Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 73668A Stat. 761Pub. L. 87–61, title II, § 203(c)(1)75 Stat. 125Pub. L. 91–53, § 2(a)83 Stat. 91A prior section 6157, , , § 6156; renumbered § 6157, , , , made a cross reference provision for payment of taxes under provisions of the Tariff Act, prior to repeal by , , .

Amendments

Pub. L. 101–2391989—Subsec. (a). substituted “subsection (c)” for “subsections (c) and (d)” in last sentence.

Pub. L. 100–6471988—Subsec. (d). struck out subsec. (d) which related to quarterly payment of railroad unemployment repayment tax.

Pub. L. 98–761983—Subsec. (d). added subsec. (d).

Pub. L. 97–248, § 271(c)(3)(C)1982—Subsec. (b). , substituted “0.6” for “0.5” in two places.

Pub. L. 97–248, § 271(b)(2)(C), substituted “0.8” for “0.7”.

Pub. L. 94–566, § 114(b)section 3306 of this title1976—Subsec. (a). , amended subsec. (a) generally, changing the general rule covering payment of Federal unemployment tax on a quarterly or other time period basis to conform to the altered definitions of employment and wages pertaining to domestic and agricultural service in .

Pub. L. 94–455, § 1906(a)(11)(B), (b)(13)(A), substituted “subsection (c)” for “subsections (c) and (d)” and struck out “or his delegate” after “Secretary”.

Pub. L. 94–566, § 211(e)(3) [(c)(3)]Subsec. (b). , substituted “In the case of wages paid in any calendar quarter or other period during a calendar year to which paragraph (1) of section 3301 applies, the amount of such wages shall be multiplied by 0.7 percent in lieu of 0.5 percent” for “In the case of wages paid in any calendar quarter or other period during 1973, the amount of such wages shall be multiplied by 0.58 percent in lieu of 0.5 percent”.

Pub. L. 94–455, § 1906(a)(11)(A)Subsecs. (c), (d). , redesignated subsec. (d) as (c). Former subsec. (c), which related to the percentage reduction for 1970 and 1971 of the tax computed in subsec. (b), was struck out.

Pub. L. 92–3291972—Subsec. (b). inserted provisions setting forth the computation of tax in the case of wages paid in any calendar quarter or other period during 1973.

Pub. L. 91–373, § 101(b)(1)1970—Subsec. (a)(1). , reduced from 4 to 1 the number of individuals which a person had to employ on each of some 20 days during the preceding calendar year and inserted provision covering persons who, during any calendar quarter in the preceding calendar year, paid wages of $1,500 or more.

Pub. L. 91–373, § 101(b)(2)Subsec. (b). , substituted “0.5 percent” for “the number of percentage points (including fractional points) by which the rate of tax specified in section 3301 exceeds .7 percent”. be the date on which payment would have been required if such remainder had been the tax.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1988 Amendment

Pub. L. 100–647section 7106(d) of Pub. L. 100–647section 3321 of this titleAmendment by applicable to remuneration paid after , see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date of 1983 Amendment

Pub. L. 98–76section 231(d) of Pub. L. 98–76section 3321 of this titleAmendment by applicable to remuneration paid after , see , set out as an Effective Date note under .

Effective Date of 1982 Amendment

section 271(b)(2)(C) of Pub. L. 97–248section 271(d)(1) of Pub. L. 97–248section 3301 of this titleAmendment by applicable to remuneration paid after , see , as amended, set out as a note under .

section 271(c)(3)(C) of Pub. L. 97–248section 271(d)(2) of Pub. L. 97–248section 3301 of this titleAmendment by applicable to remuneration paid after , see , as amended, set out as a note under .

Effective Date of 1976 Amendment

section 114(b) of Pub. L. 94–566section 114(c) of Pub. L. 94–566section 3306 of this titleAmendment by effective with respect to remuneration paid after , for services performed after that date, see set out as a note under .

section 211(e)(3) of Pub. L. 94–566section 211(d)(3) of Pub. L. 94–566section 1101 of Title 42Amendment by effective , see , set out as a note under , The Public Health and Welfare.

Effective Date of 1970 Amendment

section 101(b)(1) of Pub. L. 91–373section 101(c)(1) of Pub. L. 91–373section 3306 of this titleAmendment by applicable with respect to calendar years beginning after , see , set out as a note under .

Pub. L. 91–373, title I, § 101(c)(2)84 Stat. 696

“The amendment made by subsection (b)(2) [amending this section] shall apply with respect to calendar years beginning after .”
, , , provided that:

Effective Date

Pub. L. 91–53, § 4(a)83 Stat. 93

“The amendments made by the first two sections of this Act [enacting section 6317 and amending this section and sections 3306, 6201, 6513, and 6601 of this title] shall apply with respect to calendar years beginning after .”
, , , provided that:

Extension of Time for Payment of Additional FUTA Taxes

Pub. L. 102–244, § 4106 Stat. 4

“(a)

In General .—

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if a qualified taxpayer is required to pay additional taxes for taxable years beginning in 1991 with respect to any employment in any State by reason of such State being declared a credit reduction State, such taxpayer may elect to defer the filing and payment of such additional taxes to a date no later than .
“(b)

Interest .—

Notwithstanding subsection (a), for purposes of section 6601(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, the last date prescribed for payment of any additional taxes for which an election is made under subsection (a) shall be .
“(c)

Definitions .—

For purposes of this section—
“(1)

Qualified taxpayer .—

The term ‘qualified taxpayer’ means a taxpayer—
“(A)
in a State which has been declared a credit reduction State for taxable years beginning in 1991, and
“(B)
who did not receive notice of such credit reduction before from either the State unemployment compensation agency or the Internal Revenue Service.
“(2)

Credit reduction state .—

The term ‘credit reduction State’ means a State with respect to which the Internal Revenue Service has determined that a reduction in credits is applicable for taxable years beginning in 1991 pursuant to the provisions of section 3302 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
“(d)

Time and Manner for Making Election .—

An election under this section shall be made at such time and in such manner as the Secretary of the Treasury shall prescribe.”
, , , provided that:

Wages Paid in 1970 Calendar Quarters Ending Before

Pub. L. 91–373, title III, § 301(b)84 Stat. 713Pub. L. 99–514, § 2100 Stat. 2095

“For purposes of section 6157 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [formerly I.R.C. 1954] (relating to payment of Federal unemployment tax on quarterly or other time period basis), in computing tax as required by subsections (a)(1) and (2) of such section, the percentage contained in subsection (b) of such section applicable with respect to wages paid in any calendar quarter in 1970 ending before the date of the enactment of this Act [] shall be treated as being 0.4 percent.”
, , , as amended by , , , provided that: