26 U.S.C. § 6603 : US Code - Section 6603: Deposits made to suspend running of interest on potential underpayments, etc.

Search 26 U.S.C. § 6603 : US Code - Section 6603: Deposits made to suspend running of interest on potential underpayments, etc.

(a) Authority to make deposits other than as payment of tax
A taxpayer may make a cash deposit with the Secretary which may
be used by the Secretary to pay any tax imposed under subtitle A or
B or chapter 41, 42, 43, or 44 which has not been assessed at the
time of the deposit. Such a deposit shall be made in such manner as
the Secretary shall prescribe.
(b) No interest imposed
To the extent that such deposit is used by the Secretary to pay
tax, for purposes of section 6601 (relating to interest on
underpayments), the tax shall be treated as paid when the deposit
is made.
(c) Return of deposit
Except in a case where the Secretary determines that collection
of tax is in jeopardy, the Secretary shall return to the taxpayer
any amount of the deposit (to the extent not used for a payment of
tax) which the taxpayer requests in writing.
(d) Payment of interest
(1) In general
For purposes of section 6611 (relating to interest on
overpayments), except as provided in paragraph (4), a deposit
which is returned to a taxpayer shall be treated as a payment of
tax for any period to the extent (and only to the extent)
attributable to a disputable tax for such period. Under
regulations prescribed by the Secretary, rules similar to the
rules of section 6611(b)(2) shall apply.
(2) Disputable tax
(A) In general
For purposes of this section, the term "disputable tax" means
the amount of tax specified at the time of the deposit as the
taxpayer's reasonable estimate of the maximum amount of any tax
attributable to disputable items.
(B) Safe harbor based on 30-day letter
In the case of a taxpayer who has been issued a 30-day
letter, the maximum amount of tax under subparagraph (A) shall
not be less than the amount of the proposed deficiency
specified in such letter.
(3) Other definitions
For purposes of paragraph (2) -
(A) Disputable item
The term "disputable item" means any item of income, gain,
loss, deduction, or credit if the taxpayer -
(i) has a reasonable basis for its treatment of such item,
and
(ii) reasonably believes that the Secretary also has a
reasonable basis for disallowing the taxpayer's treatment of
such item.
(B) 30-day letter
The term "30-day letter" means the first letter of proposed
deficiency which allows the taxpayer an opportunity for
administrative review in the Internal Revenue Service Office of
Appeals.
(4) Rate of interest
The rate of interest under this subsection shall be the Federal
short-term rate determined under section 6621(b), compounded
daily.
(e) Use of deposits
(1) Payment of tax
Except as otherwise provided by the taxpayer, deposits shall be
treated as used for the payment of tax in the order deposited.
(2) Returns of deposits
Deposits shall be treated as returned to the taxpayer on a last-
in, first-out basis.