IRS News Release  
August 30, 2004

Interest Rates Increase for the Fourth Quarter of 2004

WASHINGTON - The Internal Revenue Service today announced there will be a one percentage point increase in the interest rates for the calendar quarter beginning October 1, 2004. The interest rates are as follows:

  • five (5) percent for overpayments [four (4) percent in the case of a corporation];
  • five (5) percent for underpayments;
  • seven (7) percent for large corporate underpayments; and
  • two and one-half (2.5) 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 July 2004.

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