IRS Announces Quarterly Interest Rates

WASHINGTON - The Internal Revenue Service today announced that interest rates for the calendar quarter beginning January 1, 2001, will remain at nine (9) percent for overpayments (eight (8) percent in the case of a corporation), nine (9) percent for underpayments, and eleven (11) percent for large corporate underpayments. The overpayment rate for the portion of a corporate overpayment exceeding $10,000 will remain at six and one-half (6.5) percent.

Under the Internal Revenue Code, the rate of interest is determined on a quarterly basis. For taxpayers other than corporations, the overpayment and underpayment rate is the federal short-term rate plus 3 percentage points. Generally, in the case of a corporation, the underpayment rate is the federal short-term rate plus 3 percentage points and the overpayment rate is the federal short-term rate plus 2 percentage points. The rate for large corporate underpayments is the federal short-term rate plus 5 percentage points. The rate on the portion of a corporate overpayment of tax exceeding $10,000 for a taxable period is the federal short-term rate plus one-half (0.5) of a percentage point.

The interest rates announced today are computed from the federal short-term rate based on daily compounding determined during October 2000.

Rev. Rul. 2000-57, announcing the new rates of interest, is attached and will appear in Internal Revenue Bulletin No. 2000-50, dated December 11, 2000.

Section 6621 of the Internal Revenue Code establishes the rates for interest on tax overpayments and tax underpayments. Under section 6621(a)(1), the overpayment rate beginning January 1, 2001, is the sum of the federal short-term rate plus 3 percentage points (2 percentage points in the case of a corporation), except the rate for the portion of a corporate overpayment of tax exceeding $10,000 for a taxable period is the sum of the federal short-term rate plus 0.5 of a percentage point for interest computations made after December 31, 1994. Under section 6621(a)(2), the underpayment rate is the sum of the federal short-term rate plus 3 percentage points.

Section 6621(c) provides that for purposes of interest payable under section 6601 on any large corporate underpayment, the underpayment rate under section 6621(a)(2) is determined by substituting "5 percentage points" for "3 percentage points." See section 6621(c) and section 301.6621-3 of the Regulations on Procedure and Administration for the definition of a large corporate underpayment and for the rules for determining the applicable date. Section 6621(c) and section 301.6621-3 are generally effective for periods after December 31, 1990.

Section 6621(b)(1) provides that the Secretary will determine the federal short-term rate for the first month in each calendar quarter.

Section 6621(b)(2)(A) provides that the federal short-term rate determined under section 6621(b)(1) for any month applies during the first calendar quarter beginning after such month.

Section 6621(b)(2)(B) provides that in determining the addition to tax under section 6654 for failure to pay estimated tax for any taxable year, the federal short-term rate that applies during the third month following such taxable year also applies during the first 15 days of the fourth month following such taxable year.

Section 6621(b)(3) provides that the federal short-term rate for any month is the federal short-term rate determined during such month by the Secretary in accordance with section 1274(d), rounded to the nearest full percent (or, if a multiple of 1/2 of 1 percent, the rate is increased to the next highest full percent).

Notice 88-59, 1988-1 C.B. 546, announced that, in determining the quarterly interest rates to be used for overpayments and underpayments of tax under section 6621, the Internal Revenue Service will use the federal short-term rate based on daily compounding because that rate is most consistent with section 6621 which, pursuant to section 6622, is subject to daily compounding.

Rounded to the nearest full percent, the federal short-term rate based on daily compounding determined during the month of October 2000 is 6 percent. Accordingly, an overpayment rate of 9 percent (8 percent in the case of a corporation) and an underpayment rate of 9 percent are established for the calendar quarter beginning January 1, 2001. The overpayment rate for the portion of a corporate overpayment exceeding $10,000 for the calendar quarter beginning January 1, 2001, is 6.5 percent. The underpayment rate for large corporate underpayments for the calendar quarter beginning January 1, 2001, is 11 percent. These rates apply to amounts bearing interest during that calendar quarter.

The 9 percent rate also applies to estimated tax underpayments for the first calendar quarter in 2001 and for the first 15 days in April 2001.

Interest factors for daily compound interest for annual rates of 6.5 percent, 8 percent, 9 percent, and 11 percent are published in Tables 18, 21, 23, and 27 of Rev. Proc. 95-17, 1995-1 C.B. 556, 572, 575, 577, and 581.

Annual interest rates to be compounded daily pursuant to section 6622 that apply for prior periods are set forth in the tables accompanying this revenue ruling.

DRAFTING INFORMATION

The principal author of this revenue ruling is Raymond Bailey of the Office of Associate Chief Counsel (Procedure & Administration), Administrative Provisions & Judicial Practice Division. For further information regarding this revenue ruling, contact Mr. Bailey on (202) 622-6226 (not a toll-free call).

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