IRS News Release  
December 05, 2001

Interest Rates Lower for First Quarter of 2002

WASHINGTON - The Internal Revenue Service today announced that interest rates for the calendar quarter beginning January 1, 2002, will be lowered by one percentage point in each category to:

  • six (6) percent for overpayments [five (5) percent in the case of a corporation];
  • six (6) percent for underpayments;
  • eight (8) percent for large corporate underpayments; and
  • three and one-half (3.5) percent for the portion of a corporate overpayment exceeding $10,000.

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 2001.

Rev. Rul. 2001-63, announcing the new rates of interest, is attached and will appear in Internal Revenue Bulletin No. 2001-52, dated December 24, 2001.

Rev. Rul. 2001-63

Part I, Section 6621.-- Determination of Interest Rate,
26 CFR 301.6621-1: Interest rate.

Section 6621 of the Internal Revenue Code establishes the rates for interest on tax overpayments and tax underpayments. Under § 6621(a)(1), the overpayment rate beginning January 1, 2002, 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 § 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 § 6601 on any large corporate underpayment, the underpayment rate under § 6621(a)(2) is determined by substituting “5 percentage points” for “3 percentage points.” See § 6621(c) and § 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 § 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 § 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 § 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 § 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 § 6621, the Internal Revenue Service will use the federal short-term rate based on daily compounding because that rate is most consistent with § 6621 which, pursuant to § 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 2001 is 3 percent. Accordingly, an overpayment rate of 6 percent (5 percent in the case of a corporation) and an underpayment rate of 6 percent are established for the calendar quarter beginning January 1, 2002. The overpayment rate for the portion of a corporate overpayment exceeding $10,000 for the calendar quarter beginning January 1, 2002, is 3.5 percent.

The underpayment rate for large corporate underpayments for the calendar quarter beginning January 1, 2002, is 8 percent. These rates apply to amounts bearing interest during that calendar quarter.

The 6 percent rate also applies to estimated tax underpayments for the first calendar quarter in 2002 and for the first 15 days in April 2002.

Interest factors for daily compound interest for annual rates of 3.5 percent, 5 percent, 6 percent, and 8 percent are published in Tables 12, 15, 17, and 21 of Rev. Proc. 95-17, 1995-1 C.B. 556, 566, 569, 571, and 575.

Annual interest rates to be compounded daily pursuant to § 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 Assistant Chief Counsel (Administrative Provisions and Judicial Practice). For further information regarding this revenue ruling, contact Mr. Bailey on (202) 622-6226 (not a toll-free call).

                TABLE OF INTEREST RATES
PERIODS BEFORE JUL. 1, 1975 - PERIODS ENDING DEC. 31, 1986
             OVERPAYMENTS AND UNDERPAYMENTS

In 1995-1 C.B.
PERIOD                      RATE   DAILY RATE TABLE
Before Jul. 1, 1975           6%   Table 2, pg. 557
Jul. 1, 1975--Jan. 31, 1976   9%   Table 4, pg. 559
Feb. 1, 1976--Jan. 31, 1978   7%   Table 3, pg. 558
Feb. 1, 1978--Jan. 31, 1980   6%   Table 2, pg. 557
Feb. 1, 1980--Jan. 31, 1982  12%   Table 5, pg. 560
Feb. 1, 1982--Dec. 31, 1982  20%   Table 6, pg. 560
Jan. 1, 1983--Jun. 30, 1983  16%  Table 37, pg. 591
Jul. 1, 1983--Dec. 31, 1983  11%  Table 27, pg. 581
Jan. 1, 1984--Jun. 30, 1984  11%  Table 75, pg. 629
Jul. 1, 1984--Dec. 31, 1984  11%  Table 75, pg. 629
Jan. 1, 1985--Jun. 30, 1985  13%  Table 31, pg. 585
Jul. 1, 1985--Dec. 31, 1985  11%  Table 27, pg. 581
Jan. 1, 1986--Jun. 30, 1986  10%  Table 25, pg. 579
Jul. 1, 1986--Dec. 31, 1986   9%  Table 23, pg. 577


                  TABLE OF INTEREST RATES
              FROM JAN. 1, 1987 - DEC. 31, 1998

                             OVERPAYMENTS ¦ UNDERPAYMENTS
                            --------------¦--------------
                              1995-1 C.B. ¦ 1995-1 C.B.
                            RATE TABLE PG ¦RATE TABLE PG
Jan. 1, 1987--Mar. 31, 1987   8%  21  575    9%  23  577
Apr. 1, 1987--Jun. 30, 1987   8%  21  575    9%  23  577
Jul. 1, 1987--Sep. 30, 1987   8%  21  575    9%  23  577
Oct. 1, 1987--Dec. 31, 1987   9%  23  577   10%  25  579
Jan. 1, 1988--Mar. 31, 1988  10%  73  627   11%  75  629
Apr. 1, 1988--Jun. 30, 1988   9%  71  625   10%  73  627
Jul. 1, 1988--Sep. 30, 1988   9%  71  625   10%  73  627
Oct. 1, 1988--Dec. 31, 1988  10%  73  627   11%  75  629
Jan. 1, 1989--Mar. 31, 1989  10%  25  579   11%  27  581
Apr. 1, 1989--Jun. 30, 1989  11%  27  581   12%  29  583
Jul. 1, 1989--Sep. 30, 1989  11%  27  581   12%  29  583
Oct. 1, 1989--Dec. 31, 1989  10%  25  579   11%  27  581
Jan. 1, 1990--Mar. 31, 1990  10%  25  579   11%  27  581
Apr. 1, 1990--Jun. 30, 1990  10%  25  579   11%  27  581
Jul. 1, 1990--Sep. 30, 1990  10%  25  579   11%  27  581
Oct. 1, 1990--Dec. 31, 1990  10%  25  579   11%  27  581
Jan. 1, 1991--Mar. 31, 1991  10%  25  579   11%  27  581
Apr. 1, 1991--Jun. 30, 1991   9%  23  577   10%  25  579
Jul. 1, 1991--Sep. 30, 1991   9%  23  577   10%  25  579
Oct. 1, 1991--Dec. 31, 1991   9%  23  577   10%  25  579
Jan. 1, 1992--Mar. 31, 1992   8%  69  623    9%  71  625
Apr. 1, 1992--Jun. 30, 1992   7%  67  621    8%  69  623
Jul. 1, 1992--Sep. 30, 1992   7%  67  621    8%  69  623
Oct. 1, 1992--Dec. 31, 1992   6%  65  619    7%  67  621
Jan. 1, 1993--Mar. 31, 1993   6%  17  571    7%  19  573
Apr. 1, 1993--Jun. 30, 1993   6%  17  571    7%  19  573
Jul. 1, 1993--Sep. 30, 1993   6%  17  571    7%  19  573
Oct. 1, 1993--Dec. 31, 1993   6%  17  571    7%  19  573
Jan. 1, 1994--Mar. 31, 1994   6%  17  571    7%  19  573
Apr. 1, 1994--Jun. 30, 1994   6%  17  571    7%  19  573
Jul. 1, 1994--Sep. 30, 1994   7%  19  573    8%  21  575
Oct. 1, 1994--Dec. 31, 1994   8%  21  575    9%  23  577
Jan. 1, 1995--Mar. 31, 1995   8%  21  575    9%  23  577
Apr. 1, 1995--Jun. 30, 1995   9%  23  577   10%  25  579
Jul. 1, 1995--Sep. 30, 1995   8%  21  575    9%  23  577
Oct. 1, 1995--Dec. 31, 1995   8%  21  575    9%  23  577
Jan. 1, 1996--Mar. 31, 1996   8%  69  623    9%  71  625
Apr. 1, 1996--Jun. 30, 1996   7%  67  621    8%  69  623
Jul. 1, 1996--Sep. 30, 1996   8%  69  623    9%  71  625
Oct. 1, 1996--Dec. 31, 1996   8%  69  623    9%  71  625
Jan. 1, 1997--Mar. 31, 1997   8%  21  575    9%  23  577
Apr. 1, 1997--Jun. 30, 1997   8%  21  575    9%  23  577
Jul. 1, 1997--Sep. 30, 1997   8%  21  575    9%  23  577
Oct. 1, 1997--Dec. 31, 1997   8%  21  575    9%  23  577
Jan. 1, 1998--Mar. 31, 1998   8%  21  575    9%  23  577
Apr. 1, 1998--Jun. 30, 1998   7%  19  573    8%  21  575
Jul. 1, 1998--Sep. 30, 1998   7%  19  573    8%  21  575
Oct. 1, 1998--Dec. 31, 1998   7%  19  573    8%  21  575

               TABLE OF INTEREST RATES
           FROM JANUARY 1, 1999 – PRESENT
     NONCORPORATE OVERPAYMENTS AND UNDERPAYMENTS

                             1995-1 C.B.
                           RATE TABLE PAGE
Jan. 1, 1999--Mar. 31, 1999  7%  19  573
Apr. 1, 1999--Jun. 30, 1999  8%  21  575
Jul. 1, 1999--Sep. 30, 1999  8%  21  575
Oct. 1, 1999--Dec. 31, 1999  8%  21  575
Jan. 1, 2000--Mar. 31, 2000  8%  69  623
Apr. 1, 2000--Jun. 30, 2000  9%  71  625
Jul. 1, 2000--Sep. 30, 2000  9%  71  625
Oct. 1, 2000--Dec 31, 2000   9%  71  625
Jan. 1, 2001--Mar. 31 2001   9%  23  577
Apr. 1, 2001--Jun. 30 2001   8%  21  575
Jul. 1, 2001--Sep. 30, 2001  7%  19  573
Oct. 1, 2001--Dec. 31, 2001  7%  19  573
Jan. 1, 2002--Mar. 31 2002   6%  17  571


              TABLE OF INTEREST RATES
           FROM JANUARY 1, 1999 – PRESENT
       CORPORATE OVERPAYMENTS AND UNDERPAYMENTS

                             OVERPAYMENTS ¦ UNDERPAYMENTS
                              ------------¦--------------
                              1995-1 C.B. ¦ 1995-1 C.B.
                            RATE TABLE PG ¦ RATE TABLE PG
Jan. 1, 1999--Mar. 31, 1999   6%  17  571    7%  19  573
Apr. 1, 1999--Jun. 30, 1999   7%  19  573    8%  21  575
Jul. 1, 1999--Sep. 30, 1999   7%  19  573    8%  21  575
Oct. 1, 1999--Dec. 31, 1999   7%  19  573    8%  21  575
Jan. 1, 2000--Mar. 31, 2000   7%  67  621    8%  69  623
Apr. 1, 2000--Jun. 30, 2000   8%  69  623    9%  71  625
Jul. 1, 2000--Sep. 30, 2000   8%  69  623    9%  71  625
Oct. 1, 2000--Dec. 31, 2000   8%  69  623    9%  71  625
Jan. 1, 2001--Mar. 31, 2001   8%  21  575    9%  23  577
Apr. 1, 2001--Jun. 30, 2001   7%  19  573    8%  21  575
Jul. 1, 2001--Sep. 30, 2001   6%  17  571    7%  19  573
Oct. 1, 2001--Dec. 31, 2001   6%  17  571    7%  19  573
Jan. 1, 2002--Mar. 31, 2002   5%  15  569    6%  17  571

             TABLE OF INTEREST RATES FOR
           LARGE CORPORATE UNDERPAYME NTS
           FROM JANUARY 1, 1991 – PRESENT

                            1995-1 C.B.
                           RATE TABLE PAGE
Jan. 1, 1991--Mar. 31, 1991  13%  31  585
Apr. 1, 1991--Jun. 30, 1991  12%  29  583
Jul. 1, 1991--Sep. 30, 1991  12%  29  583
Oct. 1, 1991--Dec. 31, 1991  12%  29  583
Jan. 1, 1992--Mar. 31, 1992  11%  75  629
Apr. 1, 1992--Jun. 30, 1992  10%  73  627
Jul. 1, 1992--Sep. 30, 1992  10%  73  627
Oct. 1, 1992--Dec. 31, 1992   9%  71  625
Jan. 1, 1993--Mar. 31, 1993   9%  23  577
Apr. 1, 1993--Jun. 30, 1993   9%  23  577
Jul. 1, 1993--Sep. 30, 1993   9%  23  577
Oct. 1, 1993--Dec. 31, 1993   9%  23  577
Jan. 1, 1994--Mar. 31, 1994   9%  23  577
Apr. 1, 1994--Jun. 30, 1994   9%  23  577
Jul. 1, 1994--Sep. 30, 1994  10%  25  579
Oct. 1, 1994--Dec. 31, 1994  11%  27  581
Jan. 1, 1995--Mar. 31, 1995  11%  27  581
Apr. 1, 1995--Jun. 30, 1995  12%  29  583
Jul. 1, 1995--Sep. 30, 1995  11%  27  581
Oct. 1, 1995--Dec. 31, 1995  11%  27  581
Jan. 1, 1996--Mar. 31, 1996  11%  75  629
Apr. 1, 1996--Jun. 30, 1996  10%  73  627
Jul. 1, 1996--Sep. 30, 1996  11%  75  629
Oct. 1, 1996--Dec. 31, 1996  11%  75  629
Jan. 1, 1997--Mar. 31, 1997  11%  27  581
Apr. 1, 1997--Jun. 30, 1997  11%  27  581
Jul. 1, 1997--Sep. 30, 1997  11%  27  581
Oct. 1, 1997--Dec. 31, 1997  11%  27  581
Jan. 1, 1998--Mar. 31, 1998  11%  27  581
Apr. 1, 1998--Jun. 30, 1998  10%  25  579
Jul. 1, 1998--Sep. 30, 1998  10%  25  579
Oct. 1, 1998--Dec. 31, 1998  10%  25  579
Jan. 1, 1999--Mar. 31, 1999   9%  23  577
Apr. 1, 1999--Jun. 30, 1999  10%  25  579
Jul. 1, 1999--Sep. 30, 1999  10%  25  579
Oct. 1, 1999--Dec. 31, 1999  10%  25  579
Jan. 1, 2000--Mar. 31, 2000  10%  73  627
Apr. 1, 2000--Jun. 30, 2000  11%  75  629
Jul. 1, 2000--Sep. 30, 2000  11%  75  629
Oct. 1, 2000--Dec. 31, 2000  11%  75  629
Jan. 1, 2001--Mar. 31, 2001  11%  27  581
Apr. 1, 2001--Jun. 30, 2001  10%  25  579
Jul. 1, 2001--Sep. 30, 2001   9%  23  577
Oct. 1, 2001--Dec. 31, 2001   9%  23  577
Jan. 1, 2002--Mar. 31, 2002   8%  21  575

   TABLE OF INTEREST RATES FOR CORPORATE
      OVERPAYMENTS EXCEEDING $10,000
      FROM JANUARY 1, 1995 – PRESENT
                              1995-1 C.B.
                            RATE TABLE PAGE
Jan. 1, 1995--Mar. 31, 1995  6.5%  18  572
Apr. 1, 1995--Jun. 30, 1995  7.5%  20  574
Jul. 1, 1995--Sep. 30, 1995  6.5%  18  572
Oct. 1, 1995--Dec. 31, 1995  6.5%  18  572
Jan. 1, 1996--Mar. 31, 1996  6.5%  66  620
Apr. 1, 1996--Jun. 30, 1996  5.5%  64  618
Jul. 1, 1996--Sep. 30, 1996  6.5%  66  620
Oct. 1, 1996--Dec. 31, 1996  6.5%  66  620
Jan. 1, 1997--Mar. 31, 1997  6.5%  18  572
Apr. 1, 1997--Jun. 30, 1997  6.5%  18  572
Jul. 1, 1997--Sep. 30, 1997  6.5%  18  572
Oct. 1, 1997--Dec. 31, 1997  6.5%  18  572
Jan. 1, 1998--Mar. 31, 1998  6.5%  18  572
Apr. 1, 1998--Jun. 30, 1998  5.5%  16  570
Jul. 1. 1998--Sep. 30, 1998  5.5%  16  570
Oct. 1, 1998--Dec. 31, 1998  5.5%  16  570
Jan. 1, 1999--Mar. 31, 1999  4.5%  14  568
Apr. 1, 1999--Jun. 30, 1999  5.5%  16  570
Jul. 1, 1999--Sep. 30, 1999  5.5%  16  570
Oct. 1, 1999--Dec. 31, 1999  5.5%  16  570
Jan. 1, 2000--Mar. 31, 2000  5.5%  64  618
Apr. 1, 2000--Jun. 30, 2000  6.5%  66  620
Jul. 1, 2000--Sep. 30, 2000  6.5%  66  620
Oct. 1, 2000--Dec. 31, 2000  6.5%  66  620
Jan. 1, 2001--Mar. 31, 2001  6.5%  18  572
Apr. 1, 2001--Jun. 30, 2001  5.5%  16  570
Jul. 1, 2001--Sep. 30, 2001  4.5%  14  568
Oct. 1, 2001--Dec. 31, 2001  4.5%  14  568
Jan. 1, 2002--Mar. 31, 2002  3.5%  12  566

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