26 U.S.C. § 148
Arbitrage
The term “higher yielding investments” means any investment property which produces a yield over the term of the issue which is materially higher than the yield on the issue.
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the term “investment property” does not include any tax-exempt bond.
With respect to an issue other than an issue a part of which is a specified private activity bond (as defined in section 57(a)(5)(C)), the term “investment property” includes a specified private activity bond (as so defined).
The term “investment-type property” does not include a prepayment under a qualified natural gas supply contract.
The average under subparagraph (B)(i) shall not exceed the annual amount of natural gas reasonably expected to be purchased (other than for resale) by persons who are located within the service area of such utility and who, as of the date of issuance of the issue, are customers of such utility.
The Secretary may increase the average under subparagraph (B)(i) for any period if the utility owned by the governmental unit establishes to the satisfaction of the Secretary that, based on objective evidence of growth in natural gas consumption or population, such average would otherwise be insufficient for such period.
For purposes of the clause (i), the term “applicable share” means, with respect to any period, the natural gas allocable to such period if the gas were allocated ratably over the period to which the prepayment relates.
For purposes of this paragraph, the term “testing period” means, with respect to an issue, the most recent 5 calendar years ending before the date of issuance of the issue.
For purposes of subsection (a), a bond shall not be treated as an arbitrage bond solely by reason of the fact that the proceeds of the issue of which such bond is a part may be invested in higher yielding investments for a reasonable temporary period until such proceeds are needed for the purpose for which such issue was issued.
The temporary period referred to in paragraph (1) shall not exceed 6 months with respect to the proceeds of an issue which are to be used to make or finance loans (other than nonpurpose investments) to 2 or more persons.
Subparagraph (A) shall be applied by substituting “3 months” for “6 months” with respect to the proceeds from the sale or repayment of any loan which are to be used to make or finance any loan. For purposes of the preceding sentence, a nonpurpose investment shall not be treated as a loan.
This paragraph shall not apply to any qualified mortgage bond or qualified veterans’ mortgage bond.
For purposes of subsection (a), a bond shall not be treated as an arbitrage bond solely by reason of the fact that an amount of the proceeds of the issue of which such bond is a part may be invested in higher yielding investments which are part of a reasonably required reserve or replacement fund. The amount referred to in the preceding sentence shall not exceed 10 percent of the proceeds of such issue unless the issuer establishes to the satisfaction of the Secretary that a higher amount is necessary.
A bond issued as part of an issue shall be treated as an arbitrage bond if the amount of the proceeds from the sale of such issue which is part of any reserve or replacement fund exceeds 10 percent of the proceeds of the issue (or such higher amount which the issuer establishes is necessary to the satisfaction of the Secretary).
A bond which is part of an issue shall be treated as an arbitrage bond if the requirements of paragraphs (2) and (3) are not met with respect to such issue. The preceding sentence shall not apply to any qualified veterans’ mortgage bond.
Except to the extent provided by the Secretary, the amount which is required to be paid to the United States by the issuer shall be paid in installments which are made at least once every 5 years. Each installment shall be in an amount which ensures that 90 percent of the amount described in paragraph (2) with respect to the issue at the time payment of such installment is required will have been paid to the United States. The last installment shall be made no later than 60 days after the day on which the last bond of the issue is redeemed and shall be in an amount sufficient to pay the remaining balance of the amount described in paragraph (2) with respect to such issue. A series of issues which are redeemed during a 6-month period (or such longer period as the Secretary may prescribe) shall be treated (at the election of the issuer) as 1 issue for purposes of the preceding sentence if no bond which is part of any issue in such series has a maturity of more than 270 days or is a private activity bond. In the case of a tax and revenue anticipation bond, the last installment shall not be required to be made before the date 8 months after the date of issuance of the issue of which the bond is a part.
In the case of an issue described in subclause (II), clause (i) shall be applied by substituting “1 year” for “6 months” each place it appears with respect to the portion of the proceeds of the issue which are not expended in accordance with clause (i) if such portion does not exceed 5 percent of the proceeds of the issue.
An issue is described in this subclause if no bond which is part of such issue is a private activity bond (other than a qualified 501(c)(3) bond) or a tax or revenue anticipation bond.
For purposes of clause (i), in the case of an issue of tax or revenue anticipation bonds, the net proceeds of such issue (including earnings thereon) shall be treated as expended for the governmental purpose of the issue on the 1st day after the date of issuance that the cumulative cash flow deficit to be financed by such issue exceeds 90 percent of the proceeds of such issue.
For purposes of subclause (I), the term “cumulative cash flow deficit” means, as of the date of computation, the excess of the expenses paid during the period described in subclause (III) which would ordinarily be paid out of or financed by anticipated tax or other revenues over the aggregate amount available (other than from the proceeds of the issue) during such period for the payment of such expenses.
For purposes of subclause (II), the period described in this subclause is the period beginning on the date of issuance of the issue and ending on the earlier of the date 6 months after such date of issuance or the date of the computation of cumulative cash flow deficit.
For purposes of this subparagraph, payments of principal on the bonds which are part of an issue shall not be treated as expended for the governmental purposes of the issue.
In the case of a construction issue, paragraph (2) shall not apply to the available construction proceeds of such issue if the spending requirements of clause (ii) are met.
The term “available construction proceeds” means the amount equal to the issue price (within the meaning of sections 1273 and 1274) of the construction issue, increased by earnings on the issue price, earnings on amounts in any reasonably required reserve or replacement fund not funded from the issue, and earnings on all of the foregoing earnings, and reduced by the amount of the issue price in any reasonably required reserve or replacement fund and the issuance costs financed by the issue.
The term “available construction proceeds” shall not include amounts earned on any reasonably required reserve or replacement fund after the earlier of the close of the 2-year period described in clause (ii) or the date the construction is substantially completed.
The term “available construction proceeds” shall not include payments on any obligation acquired to carry out the governmental purposes of the issue and shall not include earnings on such payments.
At the election of the issuer, the term “available construction proceeds” shall not include earnings on any reasonably required reserve or replacement fund.
At the election of the issuer, paragraph (2) shall not apply to available construction proceeds which do not meet the spending requirements of clause (ii) if the issuer pays a penalty, with respect to each 6-month period after the date the bonds were issued, equal to 1½ percent of the amount of the available construction proceeds of the issue which, as of the close of such 6-month period, is not spent as required by clause (ii).
The penalty imposed by this clause shall cease to apply only as provided in clause (viii) or after the latest maturity date of any bond in the issue (including any refunding bond with respect thereto).
The requirement of this subclause is met if the issuer pays a penalty equal to 3 percent of the amount of available construction proceeds of the issue which is not spent for the governmental purposes of the issue as of the close of such initial temporary period multiplied by the number of years (including fractions thereof) in the initial temporary period.
The requirement of this subclause is met if the amount of the available construction proceeds of the issue which is not spent for the governmental purposes of the issue as of the close of such initial temporary period is invested at a yield not exceeding the yield on the issue or which is invested in any tax-exempt bond which is not investment property.
The requirement of this subclause is met if the amount of the available construction proceeds of the issue which is not spent for the governmental purposes of the issue as of the earliest date on which bonds may be redeemed is used to redeem bonds on such date.
For purposes of this subparagraph, payments of principal on the bonds which are part of the construction issue shall not be treated as an expenditure of the available construction proceeds of the issue.
Except as provided in this clause, clause (vii)(II), and the last sentence of clause (x), this subparagraph shall not apply to any refunding bond and no proceeds of a refunded bond shall be treated for purposes of this subparagraph as proceeds of a refunding bond.
For purposes of clause (v), any portion of an issue which is used to refund any issue (or portion thereof) shall be treated as a separate issue.
The requirements of paragraph (2) shall be treated as met with respect to earnings for any period if a penalty is paid under clause (vii) or (viii) with respect to such earnings for such period.
Any election under this subparagraph (other than clauses (viii) and (ix)) shall be made on or before the date the bonds are issued; and, once made, shall be irrevocable.
Any penalty under this subparagraph shall be paid to the United States not later than 90 days after the period to which the penalty relates.
If the spending requirements of clause (ii) are met with respect to the available construction proceeds of a construction issue, then paragraph (2) shall not apply to earnings on a bona fide debt service fund for such issue.
There shall not be taken into account under subclause (IV) of clause (i) any bond issued to refund (other than to advance refund) any bond to the extent the amount of the refunding bond does not exceed the outstanding amount of the refunded bond.
Each of the $5,000,000 amounts in the preceding provisions of this subparagraph shall be increased by the lesser of $10,000,000 or so much of the aggregate face amount of the bonds as are attributable to financing the construction (within the meaning of subparagraph (C)(iv)) of public school facilities.
Gross income shall not include the sum described in paragraph (2). Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, no deduction shall be allowed for any amount paid to the United States under paragraph (2).
Except to the extent otherwise provided in regulations, payments made by the Secretary of Education pursuant to section 438 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 are not to be taken into account, for purposes of subsection (a)(1), in determining yields on student loan notes.
For purposes of this section, the yield on an issue shall be determined on the basis of the issue price (within the meaning of sections 1273 and 1274).
The Secretary shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of this section.
For inflation adjustment of certain items in this section, see Revenue Procedures listed in a table under section 1 of this title.
The date of the enactment of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, referred to in subsec. (f)(4)(C)(vi), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 99–514, which was approved
Section 438 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, referred to in subsec. (g), is classified to section 1087–1 of Title 20, Education.
2017—Subsec. (f)(4)(C)(xiv) to (xvii). Pub. L. 115–97 redesignated cls. (xv) to (xvii) as (xiv) to (xvi), respectively, and struck out former cl. (xiv). Prior to amendment, text of cl. (xiv) read as follows: “For purposes of this subpargraph, the end of the initial temporary period shall be determined without regard to section 149(d)(3)(A)(iv).”
2006—Subsec. (f)(4)(D)(ii)(II) to (IV). Pub. L. 109–222 redesignated subcls. (III) and (IV) as (II) and (III), respectively, and struck out former subcl. (II) which read as follows: “all bonds issued by a governmental unit to make loans to other governmental units with general taxing powers not subordinate to such unit shall, for purposes of applying such subclause to such unit, be treated as not issued by such unit.”
2005—Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 109–58 added par. (4).
2001—Subsec. (f)(4)(D)(vii). Pub. L. 107–16 substituted “the lesser of $10,000,000” for “the lesser of $5,000,000”.
1997—Subsec. (c)(2)(B) to (E). Pub. L. 105–34, § 1444(a), redesignated subpars. (C) to (E) as (B) to (D), respectively, and struck out heading and text of former subpar. (B). Text read as follows: “In the case of the proceeds of an issue to be used to make or finance loans under a program described in section 144(b)(1)(A), subparagraph (A) shall be applied by substituting ‘18 months’ for ‘6 months’. The preceding sentence shall not apply to any bond issued after
Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 105–34, § 1443, struck out par. (3) which related to limitations on investment in nonpurpose investments.
Subsec. (f)(4)(B)(ii)(I). Pub. L. 105–34, § 1441, substituted “5 percent of the proceeds of the issue” for “the lesser of 5 percent of the proceeds of the issue or $100,000”.
Subsec. (f)(4)(C)(xvii). Pub. L. 105–34, § 1442, added cl. (xvii).
Subsec. (f)(4)(D)(vii). Pub. L. 105–34, § 223(a), added cl. (vii).
Subsec. (f)(4)(E). Pub. L. 105–34, § 1444(b), struck out subpar. (E) which related to exception for certain qualified student loan bonds.
1990—Subsec. (c)(2)(D). Pub. L. 101–508, § 11701(j)(5), substituted “subsection (f)(4)(C)(iv)” for “subsection (f)(4)(B)(iv)(IV)” in introductory provisions and “subsection (f)(4)(C)(v)” for “subsection (f)(4)(B)(iv)(VIII)” in cl. (i).
Subsec. (c)(2)(D), (E). Pub. L. 101–508, § 11701(j)(6), made technical amendment to Pub. L. 101–239, § 7652(c). See 1989 Amendment note below.
Subsec. (f)(4)(B)(i). Pub. L. 101–508, § 11701(j)(2), substituted in last sentence “replacement fund, and gross proceeds which arise after such 6 months and which were not reasonably anticipated as of the date of issuance, shall not be considered gross proceeds for purposes of subclause (I) only” for “replacement fund shall not be considered gross proceeds for purposes of this subparagraph only” in concluding provisions.
Subsec. (f)(4)(B)(i)(II). Pub. L. 101–508, § 11701(j)(1), amended subcl. (II) generally. Prior to amendment, subcl. (II) read as follows: “the requirements of paragraph (2) are met after such 6 months with respect to earnings on amounts in any reasonably required reserve or replacement fund.”
Subsec. (f)(4)(B)(iv). Pub. L. 101–508, § 11701(j)(4), amended cl. (iv) generally, substituting present provisions for provisions which provided for a special rule to be applied during a 2-year period for certain construction bonds from issues in which at least 75 percent of the net proceeds of the issue were to be used for construction expenditures with respect to property which was owned by a governmental unit or a 501(c)(3) organization.
Subsec. (f)(4)(C) to (E). Pub. L. 101–508, § 11701(j)(3)(A), (B), added subpar. (C) and redesignated former subpars. (C) and (D) as (D) and (E), respectively.
1989—Subsec. (c)(2)(D), (E). Pub. L. 101–239, § 7652(c), as amended by Pub. L. 101–508, § 11701(j)(6), added subpar. (D) and redesignated former subpar. (D) as (E).
Subsec. (d)(3)(E)(ii). Pub. L. 101–239, § 7814(c)(2), struck out “a qualified mortgage bond or” after “in the case of”.
Subsec. (f)(4)(B)(i). Pub. L. 101–239, § 7652(a), amended cl. (i) generally. Prior to amendment, cl. (i) read as follows: “An issue shall, for purposes of this subsection, be treated as meeting the requirements of paragraph (2) if the gross proceeds of such issue are expended for the governmental purpose for which the issue was issued by no later than the day which is 6 months after the date of issuance of such issue. Gross proceeds which are held in a bona fide debt service fund shall not be considered gross proceeds for purposes of this subparagraph only.”
Subsec. (f)(4)(B)(ii)(I). Pub. L. 101–239, § 7652(d), inserted “each place it appears” after “ ‘6 months’ ”.
Subsec. (f)(4)(B)(iii)(III). Pub. L. 101–239, § 7816(r), substituted “such date of issuance or the date” for “such date of issuance. or the date”.
Subsec. (f)(4)(B)(iv). Pub. L. 101–239, § 7652(b), added cl. (iv).
Subsec. (f)(4)(C)(ii)(II). Pub. L. 101–239, § 7816(t), substituted “to make loans to” for “on behalf of”.
1988—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 100–647, § 1013(a)(43)(B), struck out at end “Such term shall not include any tax-exempt bond.”
Subsec. (b)(2)(E). Pub. L. 100–647, § 5053(b), added subpar. (E).
Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 100–647, § 1013(a)(43)(A), added par. (3).
Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 100–647, § 1013(a)(14), substituted “any reserve or replacement fund” for “any fund described in paragraph (1)”.
Subsec. (f)(1). Pub. L. 100–647, § 4005(d)(2), struck out “qualified mortgage bond or” after “apply to any”.
Subsec. (f)(3). Pub. L. 100–647, § 6177(b), inserted at end “In the case of a tax and revenue anticipation bond, the last installment shall not be required to be made before the date 8 months after the date of issuance of the issue of which the bond is a part.”
Pub. L. 100–647, § 1013(a)(15), inserted “A series of issues which are redeemed during a 6-month period (or such longer period as the Secretary may prescribe) shall be treated (at the election of the issuer) as 1 issue for purposes of the preceding sentence if no bond which is part of any issue in such series has a maturity of more than 270 days or is a private activity bond.”
Subsec. (f)(4)(A). Pub. L. 100–647, § 6181(a), (b), struck out “unless the issuer otherwise elects,” before “any amount earned” in cl. (ii) and inserted at end of subpar. (A) “In the case of an issue no bond of which is a private activity bond, clause (ii) shall be applied without regard to the dollar limitation therein if the average maturity of the issue (determined in accordance with section 147(b)(2)(A)) is at least 5 years and the rates of interest on bonds which are part of the issue do not vary during the term of the issue.”
Subsec. (f)(4)(B)(iii)(I). Pub. L. 100–647, § 1013(a)(16)(A), substituted “proceeds” for “aggregate face amount”.
Subsec. (f)(4)(B)(iii)(III). Pub. L. 100–647, § 6177(a), substituted “the earlier of the date 6 months after such date of issuance.” for “the earliest of the maturity date of the issue, the date 6 months after such date of issuance,”.
Subsec. (f)(4)(C). Pub. L. 100–647, § 1013(a)(17)(A), in heading substituted “governmental units issuing $5,000,000 or less of bonds” for “small governmental units”, designated existing provision as cl. (i), inserted heading “In general”, redesignated existing cls. (i) to (iv) as subcls. (I) to (IV) and realigned their margins, struck out last sentence providing that cl. (iv) not take into account any bond which is not outstanding at the time of a later issue or which is redeemed, other than in an advance refunding, from the net proceeds of the later issue, and added cls. (ii) to (vi).
Subsec. (f)(4)(C)(i)(IV). Pub. L. 100–647, § 1013(a)(17)(B), struck out “(and all subordinate entities thereof)” after “such unit”.
Subsec. (f)(4)(C)(ii). Pub. L. 100–647, § 6183(a), added subcl. (II) and redesignated former subcls. (II) and (III) as (III) and (IV), respectively.
Subsec. (f)(4)(D)(i). Pub. L. 100–647, § 1013(a)(18), inserted “for a program” before “described in section 144(b)(1)(A)” in introductory text, substituted “such program” for “such a program” in subcl. (I), and inserted at end “Amounts designated as interest on student loans shall not be taken into account in determining whether the issuer is reimbursed for such costs. Except as otherwise hereafter provided in regulations prescribed by the Secretary, costs described in subclause (I) paid from amounts earned as described in the first sentence of this clause may also be taken into account in determining the yield on the student loans under a program described in section 144(b)(1)(A).”
Subsec. (f)(7)(B). Pub. L. 100–647, § 1013(a)(19), substituted “not due” for “due to reasonable cause and not”.
Pub. L. 115–97, title I, § 13532(c),
Pub. L. 109–222, title V, § 508(e),
Amendment by Pub. L. 109–58 applicable to obligations issued after
Pub. L. 107–16, title IV, § 421(b),
Pub. L. 105–34, title II, § 223(b),
Pub. L. 105–34, title XIV, § 1445,
Amendment by Pub. L. 101–508 effective, except as otherwise provided, as if included in the provision of the Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1989, Pub. L. 101–239, title VII, to which such amendment relates, see section 11701(n) of Pub. L. 101–508, set out as a note under section 42 of this title.
Pub. L. 101–508, title XI, § 11701(j)(8),
Pub. L. 101–239, title VII, § 7652(e),
Amendment by sections 7814(c)(2) and 7816(r), (t) of Pub. L. 101–239 effective, except as otherwise provided, as if included in the provision of the Technical and Miscellaneous Revenue Act of 1988, Pub. L. 100–647, to which such amendment relates, see section 7817 of Pub. L. 101–239, set out as a note under section 1 of this title.
Pub. L. 100–647, title I, § 1013(a)(16)(B),
Pub. L. 100–647, title I, § 1013(a)(17)(C),
Pub. L. 100–647, title I, § 1013(a)(43)(C),
Amendment by section 1013(a)(14), (15), (18), (19) of Pub. L. 100–647 effective, except as otherwise provided, as if included in the provision of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, Pub. L. 99–514, to which such amendment relates, see section 1019(a) of Pub. L. 100–647, set out as a note under section 1 of this title.
Amendment by section 4005(d)(2) of Pub. L. 100–647 applicable to bonds issued, and nonissued bond amounts elected, after
Amendment by section 5053(b) of Pub. L. 100–647 applicable, with certain exceptions, to obligations issued after
Pub. L. 100–647, title VI, § 6177(c),
Pub. L. 100–647, title VI, § 6181(c),
Pub. L. 100–647, title VI, § 6183(b),
Subpart applicable to bonds issued after
Pub. L. 101–508, title XI, § 11701(j)(7),
Pub. L. 99–514, title XIII, § 1301(c),