# 31 U.S.C. § 3717: Interest and penalty on claims

> Federal · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t31_s3717

## Section

- **Citation:** 31 U.S.C. § 3717
- **Heading:** Interest and penalty on claims
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** September 16, 2026
- **Source:** Publisher's official text
- **Location:** Title 31—MONEY AND FINANCE > SUBTITLE III—FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT > CHAPTER 37—CLAIMS > SUBCHAPTER II—CLAIMS OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT

## Text

The head of an executive, judicial, or legislative agency shall charge a minimum annual rate of interest on an outstanding debt on a United States Government claim owed by a person that is equal to the average investment rate for the Treasury tax and loan accounts for the 12-month period ending on September 30 of each year, rounded to the nearest whole percentage point. The Secretary of the Treasury shall publish the rate before November 1 of that year. The rate is effective on the first day of the next calendar quarter.

(Added Pub L. 97–452, § 1(16)(A), Jan. 12, 1983 , 96 Stat. 2472 ; amended Pub. L. 104–134, title III, § 31001(c)(1) , (g)(1)(C), (q), Apr. 26, 1996 , 110 Stat. 1321–359 , 1321–363, 1321–372.)

## Nearby sections

- [31 U.S.C. § 3701 Definitions and application](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t31_s3701.md)
- [31 U.S.C. § 3702 Authority to settle claims](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t31_s3702.md)
- [31 U.S.C. § 3711 Collection and compromise](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t31_s3711.md)
- [31 U.S.C. § 3712 Time limitations for presenting certain claims of the Government](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t31_s3712.md)
- [31 U.S.C. § 3713 Priority of Government claims](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t31_s3713.md)
- [31 U.S.C. § 3714 Keeping money due States in default](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t31_s3714.md)
- [31 U.S.C. § 3715 Buying real property of a debtor](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t31_s3715.md)
- [31 U.S.C. § 3716 Administrative offset](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t31_s3716.md)
- [31 U.S.C. § 3717 Interest and penalty on claims](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t31_s3717.md)
- [31 U.S.C. § 3718 Contracts for collection services](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t31_s3718.md)
- [31 U.S.C. § 3719 Reports on debt collection activities](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t31_s3719.md)
- [31 U.S.C. § 3720 Collection of payments](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t31_s3720.md)
- [31 U.S.C. § 3720A Reduction of tax refund by amount of debt](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t31_s3720A.md)
- [31 U.S.C. § 3720B Barring delinquent Federal debtors from obtaining Federal loans or loan insurance guarantees](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t31_s3720B.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t31_s3717. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.