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

31 U.S.C. § 5103

Legal tender

United States coins and currency (including Federal reserve notes and circulating notes of Federal reserve banks and national banks) are legal tender for all debts, public charges, taxes, and dues. Foreign gold or silver coins are not legal tender for debts.

Pub. L. 97–25896 Stat. 980Pub. L. 97–452, § 1(19)96 Stat. 2477(, , ; , , .)

Historical and Revision Notes

1982 Act

Revised Section

Source (U.S. Code)

Source (Statutes at Large)

5103

31:392.

July 23, 1965, Pub. L. 89–81, § 102, 79 Stat. 255.

 

31:456.

R.S. § 3584.

The words “All . . . regardless of when coined or issued” are omitted as unnecessary because of the restatement. The word “debts” is substituted for “debts, public and private” to eliminate unnecessary words. The words “public charges, taxes, duties, and dues” are omitted as included in “debts”.

Act1983

Hagar v. Reclamation District No. 108This restores to 31:5103 the reference to public charges, taxes, and dues because they are not considered to be debts. See, , 111 U.S. 701, 706 (1884).

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 97–4521983— inserted “, public charges, taxes, and dues” after “all debts”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1983 Amendment

section 2(i) of Pub. L. 97–452section 3331 of this titleAmendment effective , see , set out as a note under .