PART I—PROPERTY SUBJECT TO FORFEITURE

        

§7301. Property subject to tax

(a) Taxable articles

Any property on which, or for or in respect whereof, any tax is imposed by this title which shall be found in the possession or custody or within the control of any person, for the purpose of being sold or removed by him in fraud of the internal revenue laws, or with design to avoid payment of such tax, or which is removed, deposited, or concealed, with intent to defraud the United States of such tax or any part thereof, may be seized, and shall be forfeited to the United States.

(b) Raw materials

All property found in the possession of any person intending to manufacture the same into property of a kind subject to tax for the purpose of selling such taxable property in fraud of the internal revenue laws, or with design to evade the payment of such tax, may also be seized, and shall be forfeited to the United States.

(c) Equipment

All property whatsoever, in the place or building, or any yard or enclosure, where the property described in subsection (a) or (b) is found, or which is intended to be used in the making of property described in subsection (a), with intent to defraud the United States of tax or any part thereof, on the property described in subsection (a) may also be seized, and shall be forfeited to the United States.

(d) Packages

All property used as a container for, or which shall have contained, property described in subsection (a) or (b) may also be seized, and shall be forfeited to the United States.

(e) Conveyances

Any property (including aircraft, vehicles, vessels, or draft animals) used to transport or for the deposit or concealment of property described in subsection (a) or (b), or any property used to transport or for the deposit or concealment of property which is intended to be used in the making or packaging of property described in subsection (a), may also be seized, and shall be forfeited to the United States.

(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 867; Pub. L. 85–859, title II, §204(8), Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1429.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1958—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 85–859 included property used to transport or for the deposit or concealment of property which is intended to be used in the making or packaging of property described in subsec. (a).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1958 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 85–859 effective Sept. 3, 1958, see section 210(a)(1) of Pub. L. 85–859, set out as an Effective Date note under section 5001 of this title.

§7302. Property used in violation of internal revenue laws

It shall be unlawful to have or possess any property intended for use in violating the provisions of the internal revenue laws, or regulations prescribed under such laws, or which has been so used, and no property rights shall exist in any such property. A search warrant may issue as provided in chapter 205 of title 18 of the United States Code and the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure for the seizure of such property. Nothing in this section shall in any manner limit or affect any criminal or forfeiture provision of the internal revenue laws, or of any other law. The seizure and forfeiture of any property under the provisions of this section and the disposition of such property subsequent to seizure and forfeiture, or the disposition of the proceeds from the sale of such property, shall be in accordance with existing laws or those hereafter in existence relating to seizures, forfeitures, and disposition of property or proceeds, for violation of the internal revenue laws.

(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 867.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, referred to in text, are set out in the Appendix to Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure.

Constitutionality

For information regarding the constitutionality of this section, see the Table of Laws Held Unconstitutional in Whole or in Part by the Supreme Court on the Constitution Annotated website, constitution.congress.gov.

§7303. Other property subject to forfeiture

There may be seized and forfeited to the United States the following:

(1) Counterfeit stamps

Every stamp involved in the offense described in section 7208 (relating to counterfeit, reused, cancelled, etc., stamps), and the vellum, parchment, document, paper, package, or article upon which such stamp was placed or impressed in connection with such offense.

(2) False stamping of packages

Any container involved in the offense described in section 7271 (relating to disposal of stamped packages), and of the contents of such container.

(3) Fraudulent bonds, permits, and entries

All property to which any false or fraudulent instrument involved in the offense described in section 7207 relates.

(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 868; Pub. L. 85–881, §1(c), Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1704; Pub. L. 93–490, §3(b)(5), Oct. 26, 1974, 88 Stat. 1467; Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, §1904(b)(8)(G), (9)(D), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1816.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1976—Par. (2). Pub. L. 94–455, §1904(b)(9)(D), redesignated par. (7) as (2). Former par. (2), which related to oleomargarine or filled cheese adjudged to contain deleterious ingredients, was repealed. See 1958 Amendment note below.

Par. (3). Pub. L. 94–455, §1904(b)(9)(D), redesignated par. (8) as (3). Former par. (3), relating to offenses by manufacturers or importers of or wholesale dealers in oleomargarine or adulterated butter, was struck out.

Par. (4). Pub. L. 94–455, §1904(b)(9)(D), struck out par. (4) which related to the purchase or receipt of adulterated butter.

Par. (5). Pub. L. 94–455, §1904(b)(9)(D), struck out par. (5) which related to packages of oleomargarine found without required stamps or marks.

Par. (6). Pub. L. 94–455, §1904(b)(8)(G), struck out par. (6) which related to white phosphorus matches.

Pars. (7), (8). Pub. L. 94–455, §1904(b)(9)(D), redesignated pars. (7) and (8) as (2) and (3), respectively.

1974—Par. (4). Pub. L. 93–490 substituted provisions relating to purchase or receipt of adulterated butter and payment of tax under section 4821 of this title for provisions relating to purchase or receipt of filled cheese or adulterated butter and payment of tax under section 4821 or 4841 of this title.

Par. (5). Pub. L. 93–490 substituted provisions relating to packages of oleomargarine subject to tax under subchapter F of chapter 38 of this title for provisions relating to oleomargarine or filled cheese subject to tax under subchapter F of chapter 38 or part II of subchapter C of chapter 39 of this title.

1958—Pub. L. 85–881 repealed par. (2) which related to oleomargarine or filled cheese adjudged to contain deleterious ingredients.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1976 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 94–455 effective on first day of first month which begins more than 90 days after Oct. 4, 1976, see section 1904(d) of Pub. L. 94–455, set out as a note under section 4041 of this title.

Effective Date of 1974 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 93–490 applicable to filled cheese manufactured, imported, or sold after Oct. 26, 1974, see section 3(c) of Pub. L. 93–490, set out as an Effective Date of Repeal note under sections 4831 to 4834 of this title.

§7304. Penalty for fraudulently claiming drawback

Whenever any person fraudulently claims or seeks to obtain an allowance of drawback on goods, wares, or merchandise on which no internal tax shall have been paid, or fraudulently claims any greater allowance of drawback than the tax actually paid, he shall forfeit triple the amount wrongfully or fraudulently claimed or sought to be obtained, or the sum of $500, at the election of the Secretary.

(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 869; Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, §1906(b)(13)(A), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1834.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1976—Pub. L. 94–455 struck out "or his delegate" after "Secretary".