This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a significant new tax on certain settlement payments. Specifically, it levies a 100 percent tax on any "specified settlement fund payment" received by a taxpayer during a taxable year. These payments are defined as amounts derived from the outcome of civil actions filed against the United States or its agencies by a "specified person." A "specified person" includes any individual who has served as President of the United States , any member of their family, or any person controlled by such individuals. Notably, these taxed payments are excluded from gross income for regular income tax purposes, and the 100 percent tax itself is not deductible. The bill also establishes a 50 percent penalty for willfully failing to pay or attempting to evade this specific tax. To ensure transparency, the legislation mandates that trustees, administrators, or other fiduciaries making these payments must file a return with the Secretary of the Treasury. This return must detail the aggregate amount of payments and the recipient's information. Furthermore, these fiduciaries are required to furnish a written statement to the taxpayer, notifying them that the payments are subject to the 100 percent tax. A key provision requires the Secretary to make these returns publicly available within one month of receipt. Failure by a fiduciary to file the required return will result in a $10,000 penalty for each instance. The amendments related to the tax apply to amounts received on or after May 20, 2026, while reporting requirements apply to amounts paid on or after the same date.
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Timeline
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
SLUSH FUND Act of 2026
USA119th CongressS-4616| Senate
| Updated: 5/21/2026
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a significant new tax on certain settlement payments. Specifically, it levies a 100 percent tax on any "specified settlement fund payment" received by a taxpayer during a taxable year. These payments are defined as amounts derived from the outcome of civil actions filed against the United States or its agencies by a "specified person." A "specified person" includes any individual who has served as President of the United States , any member of their family, or any person controlled by such individuals. Notably, these taxed payments are excluded from gross income for regular income tax purposes, and the 100 percent tax itself is not deductible. The bill also establishes a 50 percent penalty for willfully failing to pay or attempting to evade this specific tax. To ensure transparency, the legislation mandates that trustees, administrators, or other fiduciaries making these payments must file a return with the Secretary of the Treasury. This return must detail the aggregate amount of payments and the recipient's information. Furthermore, these fiduciaries are required to furnish a written statement to the taxpayer, notifying them that the payments are subject to the 100 percent tax. A key provision requires the Secretary to make these returns publicly available within one month of receipt. Failure by a fiduciary to file the required return will result in a $10,000 penalty for each instance. The amendments related to the tax apply to amounts received on or after May 20, 2026, while reporting requirements apply to amounts paid on or after the same date.